TakeSmallestBy

TakeSmallestBy[list,f,n]

gives the n elements ei in list for which f[ei] is smallest, sorted in ascending order.

TakeSmallestBy[listprop,f,n]

gives the property prop for the n elements in list for which f[ei] is smallest.

TakeSmallestBy[f,n]

represents an operator form of TakeSmallestBy that can be applied to an expression.

Details and Options

Examples

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Basic Examples  (3)

Take the two shortest strings in a list:

Do the same using the operator form of TakeSmallestBy:

Take the two shortest strings in an association:

Give the four numbers closest to zero:

Give the four numbers closest to zero, or as many as are available if fewer:

Scope  (3)

Get the two smallest elements by magnitude in a list:

Get the positions of the two smallest elements by magnitude in a list:

Get the two smallest elements by magnitude in a list along with their positions:

Get the two smallest elements by magnitude in a list with their positions given first:

Get associations containing the element, position and Abs value of the two smallest elements by magnitude in a list:

Find the 10 countries whose names have the lowest total of letter numbers:

Properties & Relations  (1)

TakeSmallestBy[{e1,e2,},f,n] compares values f[ei] using NumericalOrder:

MinimalBy[{e1,e2,},f,n] compares values f[ei] using canonical Order:

Possible Issues  (2)

If fewer than the requested number of elements are present, TakeSmallestBy will not evaluate:

If the f[ei] are not comparable, TakeSmallestBy will not evaluate:

Neat Examples  (1)

From the BRICS group of countries, give the country that is closest to the current location:

Wolfram Research (2015), TakeSmallestBy, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/TakeSmallestBy.html (updated 2020).

Text

Wolfram Research (2015), TakeSmallestBy, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/TakeSmallestBy.html (updated 2020).

CMS

Wolfram Language. 2015. "TakeSmallestBy." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2020. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/TakeSmallestBy.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (2015). TakeSmallestBy. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/TakeSmallestBy.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2023_takesmallestby, author="Wolfram Research", title="{TakeSmallestBy}", year="2020", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/TakeSmallestBy.html}", note=[Accessed: 19-March-2024 ]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2023_takesmallestby, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={TakeSmallestBy}, year={2020}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/TakeSmallestBy.html}, note=[Accessed: 19-March-2024 ]}