Python: Create a 24-hour time format (HH:MM ) taking 4 given digits

Last update on May 28 2022 13:00:23 (UTC/GMT +8 hours)

Python Itertools: Exercise-22 with Solution

Write a Python program to create a 24-hour time format (HH:MM ) using 4 given digits. Display the latest time and do not use any digit more than once.

From Wikipedia,
In the 24-hour time notation, the day begins at midnight, 00:00, and the last minute of the day begins at 23:59. Where convenient, the notation 24:00 may also be used to refer to midnight at the end of a given date - that is, 24:00 of one day is the same time as 00:00 of the following day.

Sample Solution:

Python Code:

import itertools
def max_time(nums):
    for i in range(len(nums)):
        nums[i] *= -1
    nums.sort()
    for hr1, hr2, m1, m2 in itertools.permutations(nums):
        hrs = -(10*hr1 + hr2)
        mins = -(10*m1 + m2)
        if 60> mins >=0 and 24 > hrs >=0:
            result = "{:02}:{:02}".format(hrs, mins)
            break
    return result

nums = [1,2,3,4]
print("Original array:",nums)
print("Latest time: ",max_time(nums))

nums = [1,2,4,5]
print("\nOriginal array:",nums)
print("Latest time: ",max_time(nums))

nums = [2,2,4,5]
print("\nOriginal array:",nums)
print("Latest time: ",max_time(nums))

nums = [2,2,4,3]
print("\nOriginal array:",nums)
print("Latest time: ",max_time(nums))

nums = [0,2,4,3]
print("\nOriginal array:",nums)
print("Latest time: ",max_time(nums))

Sample Output:

Original array: [1, 2, 3, 4]
Latest time:  23:41

Original array: [1, 2, 4, 5]
Latest time:  21:54

Original array: [2, 2, 4, 5]
Latest time:  22:54

Original array: [2, 2, 4, 3]
Latest time:  23:42

Original array: [0, 2, 4, 3]
Latest time:  23:40

Python Code Editor:

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Next: Write a Python program to find the shortest distance from a specified character in a given string. Return the shortest distances through a list and use itertools module to solve the problem.

Python: Tips of the Day

Find current directory and file's directory:

To get the full path to the directory a Python file is contained in, write this in that file:

import os dir_path = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))

(Note that the incantation above won't work if you've already used os.chdir() to change your current working directory, since the value of the __file__ constant is relative to the current working directory and is not changed by an os.chdir() call.)

To get the current working directory use

import os cwd = os.getcwd()

Documentation references for the modules, constants and functions used above:

The os and os.path modules.

The __file__ constant

os.path.realpath(path) (returns "the canonical path of the specified filename, eliminating any symbolic links encountered in the path")

os.path.dirname(path) (returns "the directory name of pathname path")

os.getcwd() (returns "a string representing the current working directory")

os.chdir(path) ("change the current working directory to path")

Ref: https://bit.ly/3fy0R6m