#
# Name: CS 111 Course Staff
#
# lab3task3.py
#

def min_val(values):
    """ returns the smallest value in the list values
        parameter: values is a non-empty list
    """
    if len(values) == 1:
        return values[0]
    else:
        min_in_rest = min_val(values[1:])
        if values[0] < min_in_rest:
            return values[0]
        else:
            return min_in_rest

# test function
def test():
    """ test function for min_val() """
    test1 = min_val(['b', 'a', 'c'])
    print('test call 1 returns', test1)

    test2 = min_val([5, 10, 7, 15])
    print('test call 2 returns', test2)

    test3 = min_val(['b', 'a', 'd', 'c'])
    print('test call 3 returns', test3)

    test4 = min_val([10])
    print('test call 4 returns', test4)