Answer: Python Puzzler #3971

The answer is A. The program prints:

44

This answer was checked by running the program for real.

Why?

The loop remembers the biggest number it has seen so far, and replaces it whenever it finds a bigger one. This is how computers find the maximum.

Trace table

A trace table follows the program step by step. Here’s this one:

nn > biggest?biggest
24yes24
38yes38
44yes44
22no44
16no44

The code again

numbers = [24, 38, 44, 22, 16]
biggest = 0
for n in numbers:
    if n > biggest:
        biggest = n
print(biggest)

Try it: change one number in the program and predict the new output before you run it.