Let's work through a common list problem: finding the maximum value. While Python has a built-in max() function, understanding how to find a maximum manually teaches list traversal patterns.
The problem: given a list of integers, return the largest one. For [3, 7, 2, 9, 1], return 9. For [-5, -2, -8], return -2. The list is guaranteed to have at least one element.
Think about this: how would you find the largest number in a physical stack of cards? You'd look at the first card, remember it, then compare each subsequent card, updating your "best" whenever you find something larger.