Question

Rewrite the following expressions using an if...else statement. (Assume that all variables are declared properly.) a. \(\quad(x<5)\) ? \(y=10: y=20\) b. \((\text { fuel }>=10)\) ? drive \(=150:\) drive \(=30\) c. (booksBought \(>=3\) ) ? discount \(=0.15\) : discount \(=0.0\)

Short answer

Rewrite the ternary operations as if...else constructs in programming form as shown in each solution step.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Ternary Operator

The ternary operator is a shorthand way of writing an if...else statement. It has the form: (condition) ? true_value : false_value; This means if the condition is true, 'true_value' is chosen, otherwise 'false_value' is chosen.

Rewrite Expression a

We need to rewrite the expression:\((x<5) ? y = 10 : y = 20;\)using an if...else statement. This can be translated to:```if (x < 5) { y = 10;} else { y = 20;}```

Rewrite Expression b

For the expression:\((\text{fuel} >= 10) ? drive = 150 : drive = 30;\)using an if...else statement, it becomes:```if (fuel >= 10) { drive = 150;} else { drive = 30;}```

Rewrite Expression c

Finally, convert the expression:\((\text{booksBought} >= 3) ? \text{discount} = 0.15 : \text{discount} = 0.0;\)into an if...else statement:```if (booksBought >= 3) { discount = 0.15;} else { discount = 0.0;}```

Key concepts

Ternary Operator

The ternary operator is a powerful and compact way to make simple conditional assignments in programming. Often referred to as the conditional operator, it takes the form:

• (condition) ? true_value : false_value;

This means if the condition evaluates to true, the `true_value` is selected. If the condition is false, the `false_value` is chosen instead. This operator is a great way to write concise statements, especially when assigning a value based on a single condition, making your code more readable and elegant.
For example, in the expression (x < 5) ? y = 10 : y = 20; it evaluates the condition (x < 5) . If true, 10 is assigned to y , otherwise, 20 is assigned.
The ternary operator is especially useful in scenarios with simple decision-making, but it's recommended to use it wisely. Overusing it or applying it to complex conditions can lead to code that's difficult to understand and maintain. For more straightforward conditions, however, it adds clarity and brevity.

If-Else Statement

The if-else statement is one of the most fundamental control structures in C++ programming. It allows a program to make decisions based on conditions, executing different blocks of code accordingly.
An if-else statement works as follows:

• Check if a condition is true.
• If true, execute the code block inside the if statement.
• If false, the code block inside the else statement is executed (if provided).

This structure provides flexibility to handle multiple scenarios and conditions.
For instance, consider this simple example: ```cpp if (x < 5) { y = 10; } else { y = 20; } ``` Here, if x < 5 is true, y is set to 10. Otherwise, y becomes 20. The if-else statement can handle much more complex conditions and logic, which makes it versatile.
Using if-else statements can make your code more understandable since readers can easily follow the logic and see all possible paths clearly. It's also useful for stopping certain blocks of code from running under specific conditions.

C++ Programming

C++ is a versatile programming language that gives programmers the ability to write both simple and complex applications. With its roots in the C programming language, C++ introduces object-oriented features such as classes and objects, in addition to the control structures like the ternary operator and if-else statements.
C++ is widely used for developing everything from software applications to games and large systems. One of its key strengths is performance, allowing programmers to write efficient and fast code.

• C++ is structured, allowing better management of large projects.
• It provides high-level abstractions with classes and objects.
• Developers can also dive deep into system programming as C++ supports low-level manipulation.

A solid understanding of C++ includes mastering its syntax, understanding its powerful libraries, and effectively using control structures like the ternary operator and if-else statements to write logical and clean code.
C++ also fosters the learning of good programming practices due to its complexity and versatility, which challenges developers to think critically and solve problems efficiently. Learning C++ can also pave the way to understanding other programming languages due to its foundational influence on programming concepts.