Find Smallest Element in an Array
Detailed guide and Python implementation for the 'Find Smallest Element in an Array' problem.
Problem Statement
Write a function find_smallest(arr) that takes a list of integers arr and returns the smallest element. Iterate through the array and track the minimum value seen so far.
- •1 <= len(arr) <= 10^5
- •-10^9 <= arr[i] <= 10^9
Examples
arr = [3, 7, 2, 8, 1]
1
Comparing all elements: 3, 7, 2, 8, 1. The minimum is 1.
arr = [-5, -2, -8, -1]
-8
Among negative numbers, -8 is the smallest.
arr = [42]
42
Only one element, so it is the smallest.
Need a Hint?
Edge Cases to Watch
- Empty input structures
- Single element inputs
- Large numerical bounds
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