Python Exercises: Find the largest odd number in a list of integers

Last update on April 19 2025 12:57:34 (UTC/GMT +8 hours)

Find Largest Odd Number

Write a Python program to find the largest odd number in a given list of integers.

Sample Data:
([0, 9, 2, 4, 5, 6]) -> 9
([-4, 0, 6, 1, 0, 2]) -> 1
([1, 2, 3]) -> 3
([-4, 0, 5, 1, 0, 1]) -> 5

Sample Solution-1:

Python Code:

# Define a function named 'test' that takes a list 'nums' as input.
def test(nums):
    # Use a list comprehension to filter out odd numbers (numbers not divisible by 2) from the input list 'nums'.
    odd_nums = [x for x in nums if x % 2 != 0]
    
    # Check if the list 'odd_nums' is empty, meaning there are no odd numbers in the 'nums' list.
    if len(odd_nums) == 0:
        # If there are no odd numbers, return -1 as a sentinel value to indicate no odd numbers were found.
        return -1
    else:
        # If there are odd numbers, find and return the maximum (largest) odd number in the 'odd_nums' list.
        return max(odd_nums)

# Define the original list 'nums'.
nums = [0, 9, 2, 4, 5, 6]
print("Original list:")
print(nums)
# Call the 'test' function to find the largest odd number in the list.
print("Find the largest odd number in the said list:", test(nums))

# Define another list 'nums'.
nums = [-4, 0, 6, 1, 0, 2]
print("\nOriginal list:")
print(nums)
# Call the 'test' function for the second list of numbers.
print("Find the largest odd number in the said list:", test(nums))

# Define another list 'nums'.
nums = [1, 2, 3]
print("\nOriginal list:")
print(nums)
# Call the 'test' function for the third list of numbers.
print("Find the largest odd number in the said list:", test(nums))

# Define another list 'nums'.
nums = [-4, 0, 5, 1, 0, 1]
print("\nOriginal list:")
print(nums)
# Call the 'test' function for the fourth list of numbers.
print("Find the largest odd number in the said list:", test(nums))

Sample Output:

Original list:
[0, 9, 2, 4, 5, 6]
Find the largest odd number in the said list: 9

Original list:
[-4, 0, 6, 1, 0, 2]
Find the largest odd number in the said list: 1

Original list:
[1, 2, 3]
Find the largest odd number in the said list: 3

Original list:
[-4, 0, 5, 1, 0, 1]
Find the largest odd number in the said list: 5

Flowchart:

Sample Solution-2:

Python Code:

# Define a function named 'test' that takes a list 'nums' as input.
def test(nums):
    # Initialize the 'result' variable to -1, which serves as a sentinel value.
    result = -1
    
    # Iterate through the elements 'x' in the input list 'nums'.
    for x in nums:
        # Check if 'x' is an odd number (not divisible by 2) and greater than the current 'result'.
        if x % 2 and x > result:
            # If both conditions are met, update 'result' to the current 'x' value.
            result = x
    
    # Return the final value of 'result,' which is the largest odd number in the list.
    return result

# Define the original list 'nums'.
nums = [0, 9, 2, 4, 5, 6]
print("Original list:")
print(nums)
# Call the 'test' function to find the largest odd number in the list.
print("Find the largest odd number in the said list:", test(nums))

# Define another list 'nums'.
nums = [-4, 0, 6, 1, 0, 2]
print("\nOriginal list:")
print(nums)
# Call the 'test' function for the second list of numbers.
print("Find the largest odd number in the said list:", test(nums))

# Define another list 'nums'.
nums = [1, 2, 3]
print("\nOriginal list:")
print(nums)
# Call the 'test' function for the third list of numbers.
print("Find the largest odd number in the said list:", test(nums))

# Define another list 'nums'.
nums = [-4, 0, 5, 1, 0, 1]
print("\nOriginal list:")
print(nums)
# Call the 'test' function for the fourth list of numbers.
print("Find the largest odd number in the said list:", test(nums))

Sample Output:

Original list:
[0, 9, 2, 4, 5, 6]
Find the largest odd number in the said list: 9

Original list:
[-4, 0, 6, 1, 0, 2]
Find the largest odd number in the said list: 1

Original list:
[1, 2, 3]
Find the largest odd number in the said list: 3

Original list:
[-4, 0, 5, 1, 0, 1]
Find the largest odd number in the said list: 5

Flowchart:

For more Practice: Solve these Related Problems:

Write a Python program to find the smallest odd number in a list of integers.
Write a Python program to retrieve the largest odd number from a list after excluding numbers divisible by a specified value.
Write a Python program to return both the largest odd number and its index within the list.
Write a Python program to find the largest odd number in a list and return a custom message if none exist.

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