Booleans and Conditional
Statements
Python 1
Booleans
● bool for short
● Is either of: True or False
Comparison Operators
● Like in math class, you can compare two numbers using comparison
operators
● Using comparison operators would return a bool (either True or False)
Comparison Operator Description
> Greater than
< Less than
>= Greater than or equal to
<= Less than or equal to
== Equal to
!= Not equal to
Examples
>>> x = 3 >>> a = 2
>>> x < 5 >>> a < 6 - a
True True
>>> 4 < x
False >>> b = 4
>>> 3 * x >= 4 + x >>> a == b // 2
True True
>>> 2 * x <= x + 3 >>> a == b / 2
True True
>>> y = 5
>>> b + 2 < a + 4
>>> x == y - 2
True False
>>> x * 2 != y - 1 >>> b + 2 <= a + 4
True True
Logical Operators
● Logical Operators take one or two boolean expressions and returns
another boolean value.
● The three logical operators in Python are: and, or, not
Logical Operators: and
● Returns True if the two boolean >>> s = True
expressions evaluate to True >>> t = False
>>> s and t
False
>>> x = 1
>>> y = 3
b1 b2 b1 and b2 >>> x < y and y < 5
True
True True True
>>> x < 0 and y < 2
True False False False
>>> x == 1 and y > 8
False True False False
False False False
Exercise
Given that you have variables a and b such that both are numbers (you don't
know what exactly their values are), write an expression that returns True if
both a and b are positive.
Solution
Incorrect Solution:
a and b > 0
Correct Solution:
a > 0 and b > 0
Logical Operators: or
● Returns True if at least one of the two >>> a = 4
booleans evaluate to True >>> b = 0
>>> a > b or b < -1
True
>>> a == b or b >= 0
True
b1 b2 b1 or b2 >>> a > b or b == 10
True
True True True
>>> a == 30 or b > 1
True False True False
False True True
False False False
Logical Operators: not
● Returns the negation of a boolean >>> m = 20
>>> n = 2
>>> not m < 0
True
b not b >>> not m > n
False
True False >>> not m == n
True
False True
Introduction to Conditional Statements
● In the past, you have always written code that simply executes each and
every single line of code.
● However, that may not always be the case; you may want to execute
certain lines only if a certain condition passes.
● Therefore, we use conditional statements to do such thing
The if statement
● Using the if keyword, you can run certain lines of Python code only if a
certain condition passes (i.e. an expression evaluates to True)
● If the condition fails (i.e. the expression evaluates to False), then the
lines inside the statement are skipped and the program continues below
● Notice how the lines inside a conditional statement is indented.
if condition:
# Do something here...
# Notice the indent
Example
a = int(input())
if a > 1000:
print("That is a big integer! Decreasing...")
a -= 1000
print("Your number is: " + str(a))
Example: Sample Interactions
1006 2
That is a big a big integer! Decreasing... Your number is: 2
Your number is: 6
Indentation Rules
● You may have multiple lines of code within a conditional statement
● If you do so, they must all be indented in a consistent manner
● You may get a syntax error for failure to do so
● By default, on Thonny, one indent is equal to 4 spaces
a = int(input())
if a > 1000:
print("That is a big integer! Decreasing...")
a -= 1000 # INCORRECT SYNTAX!
print("Your number is: " + str(a))
else
● Use an else statement if you want to run code only if an above if
statement's condition fails
● If the above if statement passes, you would skip this
● As usual, consistent indentation is required in such statements.
if condition:
# Do something here...
else:
# Do something else here...
Example
a = int(input())
if a > 1000:
print("That is a big integer! Decreasing...")
a -= 1000
else:
print("That's a better number.")
print("Your number is: " + str(a))
Sample Interactions
1006 2
That is a big a big integer! Decreasing... That's a better number.
Your number is: 6 Your number is: 2
DMOJ Exercise
Dog Treats: https://dmoj.ca/problem/ccc20j1
elif
● Short for "else if"
● Use an elif statement underneath an if statement or another elif
statement to say "if the above condition fails, but another given condition
passes"
● May have an else statement afterwards
Examples
a = int(input())
if a > 1000:
print("That is a big integer! Decreasing...")
a -= 1000
elif a <= 0:
print("That's a negative number! Increasing...")
a *= -1
else:
print("That's a better number.")
print("Your number is: " + str(a))
DMOJ Exercise
Water Classification: https://dmoj.ca/problem/wossoly21j1
Math Assistance: https://dmoj.ca/problem/othscc1p1
Multiple elif statements
● You may have multiple a = int(input())
elif statements one after if a > 2000:
another. print("That is a VERY big integer! Decreasing...")
● Remember that you check a -= 2000
elif a > 1000:
the condition of an elif print("That is a big integer! Decreasing...")
statement only if all of the a -= 1000
elif a < -2000:
above if or elif print("That is a VERY low integer! Increasing...")
conditions have failed a += 2000
elif a < -1000:
print("That is a low integer! Increasing...")
a += 1000
else:
print("That's a better number.")
print("Your number is: " + str(a))
DMOJ Example
Cross Country: https://dmoj.ca/problem/p100ex4
Quadrant Selection: https://dmoj.ca/problem/ccc17j1
