Building Java Programs

Chapter 4
Conditional Execution
 The if statement
Executes a block of statements only if a test is true

if (test) {
statement;
...
statement;
}

• Example:
double gpa = console.nextDouble();
if (gpa >= 2.0) {
System.out.println("Application accepted.");
}

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 The if/else statement
Executes one block if a test is true, another if false

if (test) {
statement(s);
} else {
statement(s);
}

• Example:
double gpa = console.nextDouble();
if (gpa >= 2.0) {
System.out.println("Welcome to Mars University!");
} else {
System.out.println("Application denied.");
}
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 Relational expressions
• if statements and for loops both use logical tests.
for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) { ...
if (i <= 10) { ...
– These are boolean expressions, seen in Ch. 5.

• Tests use relational operators:

Operator Meaning Example Value
== equals 1 + 1 == true
2
!= does not equal 3.2 != true
2.5
< less than 10 < 5 false
> greater than 10 > 5 true
<= less than or equal to 126 <= false 4
 Misuse of if
• What's wrong with the following code?
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.print("What percentage did you earn? ");
int percent = console.nextInt();
if (percent >= 90) {
System.out.println("You got an A!");
}
if (percent >= 80) {
System.out.println("You got a B!");
}
if (percent >= 70) {
System.out.println("You got a C!");
}
if (percent >= 60) {
System.out.println("You got a D!");
}
if (percent < 60) {
System.out.println("You got an F!");
}
...
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 Nested if/else
Chooses between outcomes using many tests
if (test) {
statement(s);
} else if (test) {
statement(s);
} else {
statement(s);
}

• Example:
if (x > 0) {
System.out.println("Positive");
} else if (x < 0) {
System.out.println("Negative");
} else {
System.out.println("Zero");
} 6
 Nested if/else/if
– If it ends with else, exactly one path must be taken.
– If it ends with if, the code might not execute any path.
if (test) {
statement(s);
} else if (test) {
statement(s);
} else if (test) {
statement(s);
}

• Example:
if (place == 1) {
System.out.println("Gold medal!");
} else if (place == 2) {
System.out.println("Silver medal!");
} else if (place == 3) {
System.out.println("Bronze medal.");
}
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 Nested if structures
• exactly 1 path (mutually exclusive) • 0 or 1 path (mutually exclusive)
if (test) { if (test) {
statement(s); statement(s);
} else if (test) { } else if (test) {
statement(s); statement(s);
} else { } else if (test) {
statement(s); statement(s);
} }

• 0, 1, or many paths (independent tests; not exclusive)

if (test) {
statement(s);
}
if (test) {
statement(s);
}
if (test) {
statement(s);
}
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 Which nested if/else?
• (1) if/if/if (2) nested if/else (3) nested if/else/if
– Whether a user is lower, middle, or upper-class based on income.
• (2) nested if / else if / else

– Whether you made the dean's list (GPA ≥ 3.8) or honor roll (3.5-3.8).
• (3) nested if / else if

– Whether a number is divisible by 2, 3, and/or 5.

• (1) sequential if / if / if

– Computing a grade of A, B, C, D, or F based on a percentage.

• (2) nested if / else if / else if / else if /
else

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 Nested if/else question
BMI Weight class
Formula for body mass index (BMI):
below 18.5 underweight
weight 18.5 - 24.9 normal
BMI  2
 703 25.0 - 29.9 overweight
height
30.0 and up obese

• Write a program that produces output like the following:

This program reads data for two people and
computes their body mass index (BMI).
Enter next person's information:
height (in inches)? 70.0
weight (in pounds)? 194.25
Enter next person's information:
height (in inches)? 62.5
weight (in pounds)? 130.5
Person 1 BMI = 27.868928571428572
overweight
Person 2 BMI = 23.485824
normal
Difference = 4.3831045714285715
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 Nested if/else answer
// This program computes two people's body mass index (BMI) and
// compares them. The code uses Scanner for input, and parameters/returns.
import java.util.*; // so that I can use Scanner
public class BMI {
public static void main(String[] args) {
introduction();
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
double bmi1 = person(console);
double bmi2 = person(console);
// report overall results
report(1, bmi1);
report(2, bmi2);
System.out.println("Difference = " + Math.abs(bmi1 - bmi2));
}
// prints a welcome message explaining the program
public static void introduction() {
System.out.println("This program reads data for two people and");
System.out.println("computes their body mass index (BMI).");
System.out.println();
}
...

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 Nested if/else, cont'd.
// reads information for one person, computes their BMI, and returns it
public static double person(Scanner console) {
System.out.println("Enter next person's information:");
System.out.print("height (in inches)? ");
double height = console.nextDouble();
System.out.print("weight (in pounds)? ");
double weight = console.nextDouble();
System.out.println();
double bodyMass = bmi(height, weight);
return bodyMass;
}
// Computes/returns a person's BMI based on their height and weight.
public static double bmi(double height, double weight) {
return (weight * 703 / height / height);
}
// Outputs information about a person's BMI and weight status.
public static void report(int number, double bmi) {
System.out.println("Person " + number + " BMI = " + bmi);
if (bmi < 18.5) {
System.out.println("underweight");
} else if (bmi < 25) {
System.out.println("normal");
} else if (bmi < 30) {
System.out.println("overweight");
} else {
System.out.println("obese");
}
}
}

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 Scanners as parameters
• If many methods need to read input, declare a Scanner in
main and pass it to the other methods as a parameter.
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);
int sum = readSum3(console);
System.out.println("The sum is " + sum);
}
// Prompts for 3 numbers and returns their sum.
public static int readSum3(Scanner console) {
System.out.print("Type 3 numbers: ");
int num1 = console.nextInt();
int num2 = console.nextInt();
int num3 = console.nextInt();
return num1 + num2 + num3;
}
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 Logical operators
• Tests can be combined using logical operators:
Operator Description Example Result
&& and (2 == 3) && (-1 < false
5)
|| or (2 == 3) || (-1 < true
5)
! not !(2 == 3) true
• "Truth tables" for each, used with logical values p and q:
p q p && q p || q p !p
true true true true true false
true false false true false true
false true false true
false false false false

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 Evaluating logic expressions
• Relational operators have lower precedence than math.
5 * 7 >= 3 + 5 * (7 - 1)
5 * 7 >= 3 + 5 * 6
35 >= 3 + 30
35 >= 33
true

• Relational operators cannot be "chained" as in algebra.

2 <= x <= 10
true <= 10 (assume that x is 15)
error!

– Instead, combine multiple tests with && or ||

2 <= x && x <= 10
true && false
false
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 Logical questions
• What is the result of each of the following expressions?
int x = 42;
int y = 17;
int z = 25;
– y < x && y <= z
– x % 2 == y % 2 || x % 2 == z % 2
– x <= y + z && x >= y + z
– !(x < y && x < z)
– (x + y) % 2 == 0 || !((z - y) % 2 == 0)

• Answers: true, false, true, true, false

• Exercise: Write a program that prompts for information about a

person and uses it to decide whether to date them. 16
 Factoring if/else code
• factoring: Extracting common/redundant code.
– Can reduce or eliminate redundancy from if/else code.

• Example:
if (a == 1) {
System.out.println(a);
x = 3;
b = b + x; System.out.println(a);
} else if (a == 2) { x = 3 * a;
System.out.println(a); if (a == 2) {
x = 6; y = y + 10;
y = y + 10; }
b = b + x; b = b + x;
} else { // a == 3
System.out.println(a);
x = 9;
b = b + x;
}
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 if/else with return
// Returns the larger of the two given integers.
public static int max(int a, int b) {
if (a > b) {
return a;
} else {
return b;
}
}

• Methods can return different values using if/else

– Whichever path the code enters, it will return that value.
– Returning a value causes a method to immediately exit.
– All paths through the code must reach a return statement.

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 All paths must return
public static int max(int a, int b) {
if (a > b) {
return a;
}
// Error: not all paths return a value
}

• The following also does not compile:

public static int max(int a, int b) {
if (a > b) {
return a;
} else if (b >= a) {
return b;
}
}

– The compiler thinks if/else/if code might skip all paths, even
though mathematically it must choose one or the other.
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 if/else, return question
• Write a method quadrant that accepts a pair of real numbers
x and y and returns the quadrant for that point:
y+

quadrant 2 quadrant 1

x- x+

quadrant 3 quadrant 4

y-

– Example: quadrant(-4.2, 17.3) returns 2

• If the point falls directly on either axis, return 0.
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 if/else, return answer
public static int quadrant(double x, double y) {
if (x > 0 && y > 0) {
return 1;
} else if (x < 0 && y > 0) {
return 2;
} else if (x < 0 && y < 0) {
return 3;
} else if (x > 0 && y < 0) {
return 4;
} else { // at least one coordinate equals 0
return 0;
}
}

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