Unexpectedly, it is

max_list(List,Max)

on one hand but

max_member(Max,List)

on the other hand.

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This predicate throws if you have a non-numeric list:

?- max_list([1,w,3],2).
ERROR: Arithmetic: `w/0' is not a function

?- max_list([1,X,3],2).
ERROR: Arguments are not sufficiently instantiated

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But you can have arithmetic expressions:

?- max_list([0.5,random_float],X).
X = 0.8933638922317843.

?- max_list([0.5,random_float],X).
X = 0.7026066041924601.

?- max_list([0.5,random_float],X).
X = 0.5.

?- max_list([0.5,2*sqrt(8)],X).
X = 5.656854249492381.