def minimum(*inputs, **number):
    INF = 1e6
    mini = INF
    for eachKey in number.keys():
        print eachKey, number[eachKey]

    # one may also directly call built-in function min()
    for each in inputs:
        if mini > each:
            mini = each

    return mini

def main():
    m = minimum(12, 4, 8, 13, 5, n=5)
    print 'minimum of 5 numbers (12, 4, 8, 13, 5):', m
    inDict = {'n':8}
    m = minimum(*(12, 4, 8, 13, 5, 7, 26, 3), **inDict)
    print 'minimum of 8 numbers (12, 4, 8, 13, 5, 7, 26, 3):', m

main()