在不使用条件语句或python 3.5中循环的情况下从三个数字中获取两个最大数字

Question

Complete the function1() function which is passed three whole numbers.The function returns the total of the two bigger numbers.

print()
print(1, function1(1, 2, 3))
print(2, function1(11, 12, 3))
print(3, function1(6, 2, 5))

output should be 
1 5
2 23
3 11

This was the question. I try googling but all I have found was using conditional statement or loop. I was wondering if there is other way to do this without using both? Reason being is that this question was on before the introduction of conditional statement and loop. I can advance my self-studying and do it however there must be a reason why it poped up before we go onto the next chapter. What do you reckon?.. (During self-studying for CS101) `

Answer 1

you could sort the tuple of the numbers and add the first 2 values:

def function1(a, b, c):
    s = sorted((a, b, c), reverse=True)
    return s[0] + s[1]

sorted starts with the smalles item normally that's why you need to set reverse=True .

or you could sum the three and subtract the minimal value:

def function1(a, b, c):
    return sum((a, b, c)) - min(a, b, c)