The FindMaximalElement(L) function returns the largest element of the list L similar to max.

The FindMinimalElement(L) function returns the smallest element of the list L similar to min.

If the optional argument comparison is supplied, that procedure is used to compare elements instead of the default of `<`.

If the optional keyword parameter position is given, then an expression sequence is returned, the first element of which is the maximum (minimum) and the second is the position of either the first or last maximum (minimum)  in the list depending on whether the comparison was strict (e.g. `<`) or non-strict (e.g. `<=`).

Unlike sort, the second argument is required if the elements of L cannot be compared with `<`.

$\mathrm{with}\left(\mathrm{ListTools}\right)\&colon;$

$\mathrm{FindMaximalElement}\left(\left[3\&comma;2\&comma;1\&comma;2\&comma;1\right]\right)$

$3$

$\mathrm{FindMinimalElement}\left(\left[3\&comma;2\&comma;1\&comma;2\&comma;1\right]\right)$

$1$

$\mathrm{FindMaximalElement}\left(\left[\frac{1}{2}\&comma;1\&comma;\mathrm{sqrt}\left(2\right)\&comma;\mathrm{sqrt}\left(11\right)\&comma;\exp \left(1\right)\right]\right)$

$\sqrt{11}$

$\mathrm{FindMaximalElement}\left(\left[3\&comma;2\&comma;1\&comma;2\&comma;1\right]\&comma;\mathrm{position}\right)$

$3,1$

$\mathrm{FindMinimalElement}\left(\left[3\&comma;2\&comma;1\&comma;2\&comma;1\right]\&comma;\mathrm{position}\right)$

$1,3$

$\mathrm{FindMaximalElement}\left(\left[3\&comma;2\&comma;1\&comma;2\&comma;1\right]\&comma;\mathrm{`>`}\&comma;\mathrm{position}\right)$

$1,3$

$\mathrm{FindMaximalElement}\left(\left[\frac{1}{2}\&comma;1\&comma;\mathrm{sqrt}\left(2\right)\&comma;\mathrm{sqrt}\left(11\right)\&comma;\exp \left(1\right)\right]\&comma;\mathrm{position}\right)$

$\sqrt{11},4$

$\mathrm{FindMaximalElement}\left(\left[3a\&comma;2\right]\right)$

Error, (in ListTools:-FindMaximalElement) cannot compare elements of the list using `<`

$\mathrm{FindMinimalElement}\left(\left[\left[1\&comma;a\&comma;4\right]\&comma;\left[2\&comma;b\&comma;3\right]\&comma;\left[3\&comma;c\&comma;2\right]\&comma;\left[4\&comma;a\&comma;1\right]\right]\right)$

Error, (in ListTools:-FindMaximalElement) cannot compare elements of the list using `<`

$\mathrm{FindMinimalElement}\left(\left[\left[1\&comma;a\&comma;4\right]\&comma;\left[2\&comma;b\&comma;3\right]\&comma;\left[3\&comma;c\&comma;2\right]\&comma;\left[4\&comma;a\&comma;1\right]\right]\&comma;\mathrm{length}\right)$

Error, (in ListTools:-FindMaximalElement) 2nd argument must be a function that always returns true or false

$\mathrm{FindMinimalElement}\left(\left[\left[1\&comma;a\&comma;4\right]\&comma;\left[2\&comma;b\&comma;3\right]\&comma;\left[3\&comma;c\&comma;2\right]\&comma;\left[4\&comma;a\&comma;1\right]\right]\&comma;\left(x\&comma;y\right)\mapsto \mathrm{lexorder}\left(x\left[2\right]\&comma;y\left[2\right]\right)\right)$

$\left[4\&comma;a\&comma;1\right]$