Decision Making and

Branching in
C
 Comments
• Comments: /* This is a comment */
o Use them!
o Comments should explain:
• special cases
• the use of functions (parameters, return values, purpose)
• special tricks or things that are not obvious
o explain WHY your code does things the what it does.
 C Statements
• In the most general sense, a statement is a part
of your program that can be executed.
• An expression is a statement.
a=a+1;
a--;
• A function call is also a statement.
printf("%d",a);
• Other statements ……
• C is a free form language, so you may type the
statements in any style you feel comfortable:
a=
a+
1;a--; line breaks can be anywhere
What is a statement?
• Statements are lines of instructions in our
programs ending with a semicolon (;).
• A compound statement or block is a series of
statements surrounded by braces.

E.g. {
number = number + 1;
printf("%d\n", number);
}

• An empty statement is a single

semicolon. 4
Compound Statements
• Sequences of statements can be combined into
one with {...}
• Much like Java:
{
printf ("Hello, ");
printf ("world! \n");
}
• The C compiler treats the collection of these
statements like they are a single statement.
If statement

• False
Conditio
n

True

Statement/
Expression
 Syntax

if(boolean_expression)
{
/* statement(s) will execute if the boolean
expression is true */
}
 Example
#include <stdio.h>
int main () {
/* local variable definition */
int a = 10;

/* check the boolean condition using if statement */

if( a < 20 ) {
/* if condition is true then print the following */
printf("a is less than 20\n" );
}

printf("value of a is : %d\n", a);

return 0;
}
 Notes on if
• Which of the following code fragments are equivalent?

A if (number % 2 != 0)
{
printf("%d", number);
}
printf(” is odd\n");

B if (number % 2 != 0)
printf("%d", number);
printf(” is odd\n");

C if (number % 2 != 0)
{
printf("%d", number);
printf(” is odd\n");
}
9
 Notes on if
• Which of the following code fragments are equivalent?

A if (number % 2 != 0)
{
printf("%d", number);
}
printf(” is odd\n");

B if (number % 2 != 0)
printf("%d", number);
printf(” is odd\n");

C if (number % 2 != 0)
{
printf("%d", number);
printf(” is odd\n");
}
10
 Notes on if
• Which of the following code fragments are equivalent?

A if (number % 2 != 0)
{
printf("%d", number);
} A Compound
printf(” is odd\n"); Statement

B if (number % 2 != 0)
printf("%d", number);
printf(” is odd\n");
A Statement

C if (number % 2 != 0)
{
printf("%d", number);
printf(” is odd\n");
}
11
 Notes on if
• Common mistake

if (number % 2 != 0);
{
printf("%d is an odd ", number);
}
printf("number\n");

12
 Notes on if
• Common mistake

if (number % 2 != 0);
{
printf("%d is an odd ", number);
}
printf("number\n");

No semi-
colon
here!

The semicolon is an empty statement.

13
 Notes on if
• Common mistake

if (number = 0)
{
printf("%d\n", number);
}
printf("%d\n", number);

14
 Notes on if
• Common mistake

if (number = 0)
{
printf("%d\n", number);
}
printf("%d\n", number);

Should be
==

15
If else statement

• False
Conditio
n

True

Statement/ Statement/
Expression Expression
 Syntax
if(boolean_expression)
{ /* statement(s) will execute if the
boolean expression is true */
}
else
{ /* statement(s) will execute if the
boolean expression is false
*/
}
 Example
#include <stdio.h>
int main ()
{
/* local variable definition */
int a = 100;
/* check the boolean condition */
if( a < 20 ) {
/* if condition is true then print the following */ printf("a is
less than 20\n" );
}
else
{
/* if condition is false then print the following */
printf("a is not less than 20\n" );
}
printf("value of a is : %d\n", a);
return 0;

}
Example: oddeven.c #include <stdio.h>

/* Determine whether an input number

Read in a number, and is odd or even. */
determine if it’s odd
or even. main()
{
int number;

printf("Enter an integer: ");

output “Enter an integer” scanf("%d", &number);
input number
if (number % 2 != 0)
if (number is odd) {
then printf("%d is an odd number\n",
{
number);
output: number “ is an odd
number” }
}
else
{
output: number “ is an even
number”
} } 19
Example: oddeven.c #include <stdio.h>

/* Determine whether an input number

Read in a number, and is odd or even. */
determine if it’s odd
or even. main()
{
int number;

printf("Enter an integer: ");

output “Enter an integer” scanf("%d", &number);
input number
if (number % 2 != 0)
if (number is odd) {
then printf("%d is an odd number\n",
{
number);
output: number “ is an odd
number” }
} else
else {
{ printf("%d is an even number\n",
output: number “ is an even number);
number” }
} } 20
Example: oddeven.c #include <stdio.h>

/* Determine whether an input number

Read in a number, and is odd or even. */
determine if it’s odd
or even. main()
{
int number;

printf("Enter an integer: ");

output “Enter an integer”
No semicolons scanf("%d", &number);
input numberhere!
if (number % 2 != 0)
if (number is odd) {
then printf("%d is an odd number\n",
{
number);
output: number “ is an odd
number” }
} else
else {
{ printf("%d is an even number\n",
output: number “ is an even number);
number” }
} } 21
Example: oddeven.c #include <stdio.h>

/* Determine whether an input number

Read in a number, and is odd or even. */
determine if it’s odd
or even. main()
{
int number;

printf("Enter an integer: ");

output “Enter an integer” scanf("%d", &number);
input number
if (number % 2 != 0)
if (number is odd) {
then printf("%d is an odd number\n",
{
number);
output: number “ is an odd
number” }
} else
else {
{ printf("%d is an even number\n",
output: number “ is an even number);
number” }
} } 22
 The if...else if...else
Statement
When using if , else if , else statements there are
few points to keep in mind:

 An if can have zero or one else's and it must

come after any else if's.
 An if can have zero to many else if's and they
must come before the else.
 Once an else if succeeds, none of the remaining
else if's or else's will be tested.
The if...else if...else
Statement
Conditio
T Statement/
n Expression
F
Conditio T Statement/
n
Expression

F T
Conditio Statement/
n
Expression

Statement/
Expression
 Syntax
if(boolean_expression 1)
{
/* Executes when the boolean expression 1 is true */
}
else if( boolean_expression 2)
{
/* Executes when the boolean expression 2 is true */
}
else if( boolean_expression 3)
{
/* Executes when the boolean expression 3 is true */
}
else
{
/* executes when the none of the above condition is true */
 Example
#include <stdio.h>
int main () {
/* local variable definition */
int a = 100;
/* check the boolean condition */
if( a == 10 ) {
/* if condition is true then print the following */
printf("Value of a is 10\n" ); }
else if( a == 20 ) {
/* if else if condition is true */
printf("Value of a is 20\n" ); }
else if( a == 30 ) {
/* if else if condition is true */
printf("Value of a is 30\n" ); }
else {
/* if none of the conditions is true */
printf("None of the values is matching\n" ); }
printf("Exact value of a is: %d\n", a );
return 0;
Example: months.c

output “Enter an integer”

Determine the number of
input month
days in a given month:
if (month is September,
30 days hath September, or April,
or June,
April, June and
or November)
November. then
All the rest hath 31, {
Excepting February output “30 days”
}
alone, else if (month is February)
Which hath 28 days clear, {
And 29 in each leap year. output “28 or 29 days”
}
else
{
output “31 days”
}

27
Example: months.c int main()
{

#include <stdio.h>

/*************************\

Determine the number of days

in a given month:

30 days hath September,

April, June and November;
All the rest have 31,
Excepting February alone,
And that has 28 days clear
And 29 in each leap year.
\*************************/

const int September = 9;

const int April = 4;
const int June = 6;
const int November = 11;
const int February = 2; return 0;
} 28
Example: months.c int main()
{
int month;
printf("Enter number of month: ");
scanf("%d", &month);
#include <stdio.h>

/*************************\

Determine the number of days

in a given month:

30 days hath September,

April, June and November;
All the rest have 31,
Excepting February alone,
And that has 28 days clear
And 29 in each leap year.
\*************************/

const int September = 9;

const int April = 4;
const int June = 6;
const int November = 11;
const int February = 2; return 0;
} 29
Example: months.c int main()
{
int month;
printf("Enter number of month: ");
scanf("%d", &month);
#include <stdio.h>
if (month==September ||
/*************************\ month==April ||
month==June ||
Determine the number of days
in a given month: month==November )
{
30 days hath September, printf("30 days\n");
April, June and November;
All the rest have 31, }
Excepting February alone,
And that has 28 days clear
And 29 in each leap year.
\*************************/

const int September = 9;

const int April = 4;
const int June = 6;
const int November = 11;
const int February = 2; return 0;
} 30
Example: months.c int main()
{
int month;
printf("Enter number of month: ");
scanf("%d", &month);
#include <stdio.h>
if (month==September ||
/*************************\ month==April ||
month==June ||
Determine the number of days
in a given month: month==November )
{
30 days hath September, printf("30 days\n");
April, June and November;
All the rest have 31, }
Excepting February alone,
And that has 28 days clear
And 29 in each leap year.
\*************************/

const int September = 9;

const Common mistake:
int April = 4;
const int June = 6;
const int November = 11;
if
const
(month==September
int February = 2;
|| April || June || November )
return 0;
} 31
Example: months.c int main()
{
int month;
printf("Enter number of month: ");
scanf("%d", &month);
#include <stdio.h>
if (month==September ||
/*************************\ month==April ||
month==June ||
Determine the number of days
in a given month: month==November )
{
30 days hath September, printf("30 days\n");
April, June and November;
All the rest have 31, }
Excepting February alone, else if (month==February)
And that has 28 days clear {
And 29 in each leap year.
\*************************/
printf("28 or 29 days\n");
}
const int September = 9;
const int April = 4;
const int June = 6;
const int November = 11;
const int February = 2; return 0;
} 32
Example: months.c int main()
{
int month;
printf("Enter number of month: ");
scanf("%d", &month);
#include <stdio.h>
if (month==September ||
/*************************\ month==April ||
month==June ||
Determine the number of days
in a given month: month==November )
{
30 days hath September, printf("30 days\n");
April, June and November;
All the rest have 31, }
Excepting February alone, else if (month==February)
And that has 28 days clear {
And 29 in each leap year.
\*************************/
printf("28 or 29 days\n");
}
const int September = 9; else
const int April = 4; {
const int June = 6; printf("31 days\n");
const int November = 11; }
const int February = 2; return 0;
} 33
Example: months.c int main()
{
int month;
printf("Enter number of month: ");
scanf("%d", &month);
#include <stdio.h>
if (month==September ||
/*************************\ month==April ||
month==June ||
Determine the number of days
in a given month: month==November )
{
30 days hath September, printf("30 days\n");
April, June and November;
}
“Default” block.
All the rest have 31,
Excepting February alone, else if (month==February)
And that has 28 days clear {
And 29 in each leap year.
\*************************/
printf("28 or 29 days\n");
}
const int September = 9; else
const int April = 4; {
const int June = 6; printf("31 days\n");
const int November = 11; }
const int February = 2; return 0;
} 34
Example: months.c int main()
{
int month;
printf("Enter number of month: ");
scanf("%d", &month);
#include <stdio.h>
if (month==September ||
/*************************\ month==April ||
month==June ||
Determine the number of days
in a given month: month==November )
{
30 days hath September, printf("30 days\n");
April, June and November;
All the rest have 31, }
Excepting February alone, else if (month==February)
And that has 28 days clear {
And 29 in each leap year.
\*************************/
printf("28 or 29 days\n");
}
const int September = 9; else
const int April = 4; {
const int June = 6; printf("31 days\n");
const int November = 11; }
const int February = 2; return 0;
} 35
 Notes on Cascaded
if
if (letter >= ’a’)
{

Q:
printf(“S1\n”);
}
What is the output else if (letter <= ’z’)
{
if: printf(“S2\n”);
}
• letter is equal to else if (letter >= ’A’)
‘b’ {
printf(“S3\n”);
• letter is equal to }
else if (letter <= ’Z’)
‘z’ {
printf(“S4\n”);
• letter is equal to }

‘A’ 36
 More Examples
if (ch >= ’a’ && ch <= ’z’)
{
printf(“%c is in lower case.\n”, ch);
}
else if (ch >= ’A’ && ch <= ’Z’)
{
printf(“%c is in upper case.\n”. ch);
}
else if (ch >= ’0’ && ch <= ’9’)
{
printf(“%c is a digit with value %d.\n”, ch, ch - ’0’);
}

37
 More Examples
if (ch >= ’a’ && ch <= ’z’)
{
printf(“%c is in lower case.\n”, ch);
}
else if (ch >= ’A’ && ch <= ’Z’)
{
printf(“%c is in upper case.\n”. ch);
}
else if (ch >= ’0’ && ch <= ’9’)
{
printf(“%c is a digit with value %d.\n”, ch, ch - ’0’);
}

38
 Nested if statements
You can use one if or else if statement inside another if
or else if statement(s)
Syntax:
if( boolean_expression 1)
{
/* Executes when the boolean expression 1 is true
*/
if(boolean_expression 2)
{
/* Executes when the boolean expression 2 is true */
}
}
Nested if statements
Conditio
T Conditio
T Conditio
T n n n

F Statement/
Expression
 Example
#include <stdio.h>
int main ()
{
/* local variable definition */
int a = 100;
int b = 200;
/* check the boolean condition */
if( a == 100 ) {
/* if condition is true then check the following */
if( b == 200 ) {
/* if condition is true then print the following */
printf("Value of a is 100 and b is 200\n" );
}

}
printf("Exact value of a is : %d\n", a );
printf("Exact value of b is : %d\n", b );
return 0;
Topics

• The if statement
• The else statement
• Cascaded if
• Nested if

42
 switch statement
A switch statement allows a variable to be tested for
equality against a list of values.
Syntax:
switch(expression){
case constant-expression :
statement(s); break; /* optional */
case constant-expression :
statement(s); break; /* optional */
……

/* you can have any number of case statements */

default : /* Optional */
statement(s);
}
switch statement
Conditio
n

Case 1
Statement/
Expression
Case 2
Statement/
Expression

Default
Statement/
Expression
 Example
#include <stdio.h>
int main () {
/* local variable definition */
char grade = 'B';
switch(grade) {
case 'A' :
printf("Excellent!\n" );
break;
case 'B' :
case 'C' :
printf("Well done\n" );
break;
case 'D' :
printf("You passed\n" );
break;
case 'F' :
printf("Better try again\n" );
break;
default :
printf("Invalid grade\n" );
}

printf("Your grade is %c\n", grade );

 The ? : Operator

Exp1 ? Exp2 : Exp3;

• It can be used to replace if...else statements.

 Good Luck
Thank you 

Q?