Proposal: min(None, x) and max(None, x) return x

[Skip Montanaro]

    Chad> xMax = []
    Chad> for -whatever-:
    Chad>   -big calculation leading to a value of x-
    Chad>   xMax = [max([x]+xMax)]
    Chad> xMax = xMax[0]

Wouldn't it be better to accumulate all your x's in a list and call max once
at the end:

    xlist = []
    for -whatever-:
        xlist.append(big_hairy_calc)
    xMax = max(xlist)

?

-- 
Skip Montanaro - skip at pobox.com
http://www.mojam.com/
http://www.musi-cal.com/