2013-02-17

Decisions

Chapter Goals To be able to implement decisions using if statements To understand how to group statements into blocks To learn how to compare integers, floating-point numbers, strings, and objects To recognize the correct ordering of decisions in multiple branches To program conditions using Boolean operators and variables To understand the importance of test coverage

The if Statement The if statement lets a program carry out different actions depending on a condition
if (amount <= balance) balance = balance amount;

2013-02-17

The if/else Statement

if (amount <= balance) balance = balance amount; else balance = balance OVERDRAFT_PENALTY

Conditions Statement Types Compound statement:

if (balance >= amount) balance = balance - amount;

Also loop statements (next lecture) Block statement:

if (balance >= amount) { double newBalance = balance - amount; balance = newBalance; }

Syntax 4.1 The if Statement

2013-02-17

Self Check 4.1 Why did we use the condition amount <= balance and not amount < balance in the example for the if/else statement? Answer: If the withdrawal amount equals the balance, the result should be a zero balance and no penalty.

Self Check 4.2 What is logically wrong with the statement

if (amount <= balance) newBalance = balance - amount; balance = newBalance;

and how do you fix it? Answer: Only the first assignment statement is part of the if statement. Use braces to group both assignment statements into a block statement.

Comparing Values: Relational Operators Relational operators compare values

Java > >= < <= == != Math Notation > < = Greater than Greater than or equal Less than Less than or equal Equal Not equal Description

2013-02-17

Comparing Values: Relational Operators The == denotes equality testing:

a = 5; // Assign 5 to a if (a == 5) ... // Test whether a equals 5

Relational operators have lower precedence than arithmetic operators:

amount + fee <= balance

Comparing Floating-Point Numbers Consider this code:

double r = Math.sqrt(2); double d = r * r - 2; if (d == 0) System.out.println("sqrt(2)squared minus 2 is 0"); else System.out.println("sqrt(2)squared minus 2 is not 0 but " + d);

It prints:
sqrt(2)squared minus 2 is not 0 but 4.440892098500626E-16

Comparing Floating-Point Numbers To avoid roundoff errors, dont use == to compare floating-point numbers To compare floating-point numbers test whether they are close enough: |x - y|
final double EPSILON = 1E-14; if (Math.abs(x - y) <= EPSILON) // x is approximately equal to y

is a small number such as 10-14

2013-02-17

Comparing Strings To test whether two strings are equal to each other, use equals method:
if (string1.equals(string2)) . . .

Dont use == for strings!

if (string1 == string2) // Not useful

== tests identity, equals tests equal contents Case insensitive test:

if (string1.equalsIgnoreCase(string2))

Comparing Strings string1.compareTo(string2) < 0 means: string1 comes before string2 in the dictionary string1.compareTo(string2) > 0 means: string1 comes after string2 string1.compareTo(string2) == 0 means: string1 equals string2 "car" comes before "cargo" All uppercase letters come before lowercase: "Hello" comes before "car"

Lexicographic Comparison

2013-02-17

Syntax 4.2 Comparisons

Comparing Objects == tests for identity, equals for identical content Rectangle box1 = new Rectangle(5, 10, 20, 30);
Rectangle box2 = box1; Rectangle box3 = new Rectangle(5, 10, 20, 30);

box1 != box3, but box1.equals(box3) box1 == box2 Caveat: equals must be defined for the class

Testing for null null reference refers to no object:

String middleInitial = null; // Not set if ( ... ) middleInitial = middleName.substring(0, 1);

Can be used in tests:

if (middleInitial == null) System.out.println(firstName + " " + lastName); else System.out.println(firstName + " " + middleInitial + ". " + lastName);

Use ==, not equals, to test for null null is not the same as the empty string ""

2013-02-17

Self Check 4.3 What is the value of s.length() if s is

a. the empty string ""? b. the string " " containing a space? c. null?

Answer: (a) 0; (b) 1; (c) an exception occurs.

Multiple Alternatives: Sequences of Comparisons if (condition1) statement1; else if (condition2) statement2; ... else statement4; The first matching condition is executed Order matters:
if (richter >= 0) // always passes r = "Generally not felt by people"; else if (richter >= 3.5) // not tested r = "Felt by many people, no destruction"; ...

Multiple Alternatives: Sequences of Comparisons Dont omit else:

if (richter >= 8.0) r = "Most structures fall"; if (richter >= 7.0) // omitted else--ERROR r = "Many buildings destroyed";

2013-02-17

Multiple Alternatives: Nested Branches Branch inside another branch: if (condition1) { if (condition1a) statement1a; else statement1b; } else statement2;

Self Check 4.5 The if/else/else statement for the earthquake strength first tested for higher values, then descended to lower values. Can you reverse that order? Answer: Yes, if you also reverse the comparisons:
if (richter < 3.5) r = "Generally not felt by people"; else if (richter < 4.5) r = "Felt by many people, no destruction"; else if (richter < 6.0) r = "Damage to poorly constructed buildings"; ...

Using Boolean Expressions: The boolean Type

George Boole (1815-1864): pioneer in the study of logic value of expression amount < 1000 is true or false boolean type: one of these 2 truth values

2013-02-17

Using Boolean Expressions: Predicate Method A predicate method returns a boolean value:
public boolean isOverdrawn() { return balance < 0; }

Use in conditions:
if (harrysChecking.isOverdrawn())

Useful predicate methods in Character class:

isDigit isLetter isUpperCase isLowerCase

Using Boolean Expressions: Predicate Method if (Character.isUpperCase(ch)) ... Useful predicate methods in Scanner class: hasNextInt() and hasNextDouble():
if (in.hasNextInt()) n = in.nextInt();

Using Boolean Expressions: The Boolean Operators && || ! and or not

if (0 < amount && amount < 1000) . . . if (input.equals("S") || input.equals("M")) . . . if (!input.equals("S")) . . .

2013-02-17

Truth Tables
A
true true false

B
true false Any

A && B
true false false

A
true false false

B
Any true false

A || B true true false

A
true false

!A
false true

Using Boolean Variables private boolean married; Set to truth value:

married = input.equals("M");

Use in conditions:
if (married) ... else ... if (!married) ...

Also called flag It is considered gauge to write a test such as

if (married == true) ... // Don't

Just use the simpler test

if (married) ...

Self Check 4.7 When does the statement

system.out.println (x > 0 || x < 0);

print false? Answer: When x is zero.

10

2013-02-17

Self Check 4.8 Rewrite the following expression, avoiding the comparison with false: if (character.isDigit(ch) == false) ... Answer: if (!Character.isDigit(ch)) ...

Code Coverage Black-box testing: Test functionality without consideration of internal structure of implementation White-box testing: Take internal structure into account when designing tests Test coverage: Measure of how many parts of a program have been tested Make sure that each part of your program is exercised at least once by one test case E.g., make sure to execute each branch in at least one test case

Code Coverage Include boundary test cases: Legal values that lie at the boundary of the set of acceptable inputs Tip: Write first test cases before program is written completely gives insight into what program should do

11

2013-02-17

Chapter Goals To be able to implement decisions using if statements To understand how to group statements into blocks To learn how to compare integers, floating-point numbers, strings, and objects To recognize the correct ordering of decisions in multiple branches To program conditions using Boolean operators and variables To understand the importance of test coverage

12