Determining whether a variable is less/greater than a range.

[Tim Chase]

> a = list(range(10, 21))
> 
> b = 9
> 
> c = 21
> 
> How can I find out if b and c have values less or more than the values
> in list a?

Sounds like a good use for 2.5's addition of the any() and all() 
functions -- you don't mention whether you want your variable 
compared against *any* of the list items or *all* of the list 
items.  You also don't mention whether you want the comparison 
results, or just a single scalar.  Lastly, you omit the details 
of what happens if your target value ("d" below) falls within the 
range.  One of the following should do it for you:

   >>> a = range(10,21)
   >>> b = 9
   >>> c = 21
   >>> d = 15
   >>> any(b < x for x in a)
   True
   >>> all(b < x for x in a)
   True
   >>> any(c < x for x in a)
   False
   >>> any(d < x for x in a)
   True
   >>> all(d < x for x in a)
   False
   >>> any(c > x for x in a)
   True
   >>> all(c > x for x in a)
   True
   >>> any(d > x for x in a)
   True
   >>> all(d > x for x in a)
   False

If you just want the comparisons:

   y1 = [b<x for x in a]
   y2 = [c<x for x in a]
   y3 = [d<x for x in a]
   z1 = [(b<x, b>x) for x in a]
   z2 = [(c<x, c>x) for x in a]
   z3 = [(d<x, d>x) for x in a]

-tkc