ENH: closes #288

Author: adamklein

pandas/__init__.py

@@ -31,3 +31,4 @@
 
 from pandas.tools.merge import merge, concat
 from pandas.tools.pivot import pivot_table, crosstab
+from pandas.tools.describe import value_range

pandas/tests/test_tools.py

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#import unittest
+
+from pandas import DataFrame
+from pandas.tools.describe import value_range
+
+import numpy as np
+
+def test_value_range():
+    df = DataFrame(np.random.randn(5, 5))
+    df.ix[0,2] = -5
+    df.ix[2,0] = 5
+
+    res = value_range(df)
+
+    assert( res['Minimum'] == -5 )
+    assert( res['Maximum'] == 5 )
+
+    df.ix[0,1] = np.NaN
+
+    assert( res['Minimum'] == -5 )
+    assert( res['Maximum'] == 5 )

pandas/tools/describe.py

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+from pandas.core.series import Series
+
+def value_range(df):
+    '''
+    Return the minimum and maximum of a dataframe in a series object
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    df : dataframe
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    (maximum, minimum) : Series
+
+    '''
+    return Series((min(df.min()), max(df.max())), ('Minimum', 'Maximum'))