Booleans and Conditional
Statements: Part 2
Python 1
Exercise: What is the output?
n = 5 Output:
A
if n < 20:
print('A')
elif n < 10:
print('B')
We do not go to the elif statement because
else:
we passed the first if statement's condition
print('C') where n < 20.
Question: Can we change the value of n in
the beginning to anything else such that this
code prints B instead?
Multiple Logical Operators
You can use multiple logical operators in the >>> a = True
same boolean expression. >>> b = True
>>> c = False
The order of operations apply and are as
>>> d = False
follows:
>>> a and b and c
● B: Brackets False
● N: not >>> a or b or c
● A: and True
● O: or >>> a and b or not c and d
True
Where there are multiple of the same logical >>> a and (not b or c)
operator, we evaluate from left to right False
>>> a and b and not (c or d)
True
DMOJ Example
Telemarketer or not?: https://dmoj.ca/problem/ccc18j1
More ways to use conditional statements
● An if statement does not always need to have an elif or else
statement right below it
● You can put an if statement below another if statement
● if statements will not be skipped, even if you pass an if statement's
condition above it
value = 30 Output
if value > 10: over 10
print('over 10') under 40
if value < 40:
print('under 40')
Exercise: What's the difference between the two?
value = 30 value = 30
if value > 10: if value > 10:
value += 5 value += 5
if value < 40: elif value < 40:
value -= 5 value -= 5
print(value) print(value)
Output Output
30 35
Nested conditions
● You can have conditional statements value = int(input())
inside other conditional statements.
These are called nested conditions.
if value > 10:
● Nested conditions are checked only if
if value % 2 == 0:
you enter the outer conditional
statement print('large even')
● Notice how statements inside a nested else:
condition is indented even farther print('large odd')
than before else:
if value % 2 == 0:
print('small even')
else:
print('small odd')
DMOJ Example
Speed fines are not fine!: https://dmoj.ca/problem/ccc12j1
What's the difference between these two?
x = 10 x = 10
if x < 5: if x < 5:
print('small') print('small')
if x % 2 == 0: if x % 2 == 0:
print('even') print('even')
Output Output
even
Truthiness
● Truthiness refers to how every value in Python has a "boolean
equivalent".
● Some values are considered to be truthy (equivalent to True), and others
are falsy (equivalent to False)
● You can use the built-in function bool(x) to determine if x is truthy
Truthy Values Falsy Values
● Any number other than 0 (this includes ● 0 (or 0.0)
negative numbers) ● The empty string ""
● Any string other than the empty string "" ● False
● True
Truthiness
● Truthiness can be used in boolean >>> a = 3
expressions >>> b = 0
● If non-boolean values are used in >>> bool(a)
boolean expressions, we use their True
truthiness values instead
>>> bool(b)
False
>>> a or b
True
>>> a - 3 or b
False
>>> a and b
False
Truthiness in Conditional Statements
● You can take advantage of truthiness in conditional statements.
● The two code snippets mean the same thing
a = int(input()) a = int(input())
b = int(input()) b = int(input())
if a and b > 0: if a != 0 and b > 0:
print('yes') print('yes')
elif a > b and b: elif a > b and b != 0:
print('no') print('no')
else: else:
print('maybe') print('maybe')
Using Truthiness in Practice
● Unless you're very confident in coding, avoid taking advantage of
truthiness
● Your boolean expressions should use only explicit boolean values in all
your conditional statements to prevent mistakes
