Level 5Exercise #103

Three smallest

Return the three smallest values without sorting the entire input yourself.

What you’ll practice

This Level 5 exercise focuses on nsmallest in the Algorithms curriculum. Solve the challenge prompt above using clear, idiomatic Python and the relevant language or standard-library tools.

Relevant Python reference: all().

Sample Test Cases

Example #1

Input:three_smallest([9,1,7,2,6,3])

Output:[1,2,3]

Reference Solution

Reveal Reference Solution

def three_smallest(values: list[int]) -> list[int]:
    import heapq
    return heapq.nsmallest(3, values)

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Three smallest

What you’ll practice

Sample Test Cases

Further Reading

Reference Solution