Lesson 13: Advanced Conditionals — Shorthand If, Logical Operators, Nested If, Pass, and Match

Lesson Introduction

Welcome to Lesson 13! So far you have been making decisions in Python using if, elif, and else. That is a great start. Now we are going to go deeper and discover five powerful tools that professional Python developers use every single day.

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

Write single-line if and if/else statements using Python shorthand
Use the ternary (conditional expression) pattern to assign values in one line
Combine multiple conditions with the logical operators and, or, and not
Write if statements inside other if statements (nested conditions)
Use the pass keyword as a safe placeholder when a code block is intentionally left empty
Use the match statement to compare a single value against many possible options cleanly

These tools will make your code shorter, cleaner, and more professional — like the programs used to build Nigerian fintech apps, university portals, and school management systems.

Prerequisite Concepts Recap

Before we begin, let us quickly review what you already know:

Variables store values, for example: score = 85
Booleans are True or False values
Comparison operators compare values: >, <, >=, <=, ==, !=
if / elif / else — You already know how to make decisions over multiple lines

Quick reminder: Every if block in Python must have at least one statement inside it. An empty block causes a SyntaxError. You will learn how pass solves this problem later in this lesson.

Section 1: Shorthand If (One-Line If)

What Is It and Why Does It Exist?

Normally when you write an if statement, you split it across two or more lines:

score = 75
if score >= 50:
    print("You passed!")

This is perfectly fine. But sometimes, when the condition and the action are very simple, Python allows you to write the entire thing on a single line. This is called a shorthand if or one-line if.

Think of it like this: instead of writing “If the weather is fine, go outside” in two separate sentences, you can say it in one breath.

Why use it?

It saves lines of code when the logic is simple
It makes the code feel more natural for quick checks
It is widely used in real Python projects for short guards and checks

Important rule: You still need the colon (:) after the condition — even in a single line.

Syntax

if condition: action

Example 1: Simple One-Line If

a = 5
b = 2
if a > b: print("a is greater than b")

Expected output:

a is greater than b

Breaking it down line by line:

a = 5 — we store the number 5 in a variable called a
b = 2 — we store 2 in b
if a > b: — Python checks: is 5 greater than 2? Yes, it is True
print("a is greater than b") — this runs immediately because the condition was True

Thinking prompt: What would happen if a = 1 and b = 5? Would anything be printed? Why not?

Section 2: Shorthand If…Else (The Ternary Operator / Conditional Expression)

What Is It and Why Does It Exist?

A ternary operator (also called a conditional expression) lets you write a full if/else choice on a single line. You use it when you want Python to pick between two outcomes based on a condition.

Real-world analogy: Think of it like asking “Will I order jollof rice or fried rice?” — you pick one based on what is available. In Python, you pick one value or action based on whether a condition is True or False.

Syntax for Printing

print(value_if_true) if condition else print(value_if_false)

Example 2: One-Line If/Else Printing

a = 2
b = 330
print("A") if a > b else print("B")

Expected output:

Breaking it down:

a = 2, b = 330 — set up the two numbers
a > b — is 2 greater than 330? No. So the condition is False
Because it is False, Python runs print("B") (the else side)

Syntax for Assigning a Value

The ternary is even more powerful when you use it to assign a value to a variable:

variable = value_if_true if condition else value_if_false

Think of this as: “Give me X if the condition is met, otherwise give me Y.”

Example 3: Assigning a Value With Ternary

a = 10
b = 20
bigger = a if a > b else b
print("Bigger is", bigger)

Expected output:

Bigger is 20

Breaking it down:

a > b checks if 10 > 20 → False
Since it is False, Python picks b (which is 20) and stores it in bigger
print("Bigger is", bigger) outputs the result

Example 4: Setting a Default Value

This is very common in real apps — if a user does not supply a name, you show “Guest” instead:

username = ""
display_name = username if username else "Guest"
print("Welcome,", display_name)

Expected output:

Welcome, Guest

Breaking it down:

username = "" — an empty string is falsy in Python (it evaluates as False)
username if username — since username is empty/falsy, this condition fails
Python picks "Guest" (the else side)
This pattern protects your app from crashing when a field is empty

Thinking prompt: What would happen if you set username = "Amaka"? What would be printed then?

Example 5: Chained Ternary (Three Outcomes in One Line)

You can chain ternary expressions to get three possible outcomes:

a = 330
b = 330
print("A") if a > b else print("=") if a == b else print("B")

Expected output:

Breaking it down:

First check: is a > b? (330 > 330) → False
Second check: is a == b? (330 == 330) → True
Since True, print "="

Important note: Chained ternaries can become hard to read. Use them only when the logic stays simple. For three or more conditions with complex logic, use a regular if/elif/else block.

When Should You Use Shorthand If?

Use shorthand if and the ternary when:

The condition is very simple (one comparison)
The action is just one short statement
You want to assign one of two values to a variable
Readability is not sacrificed

Do NOT use it for complex multi-line logic — regular if/else is cleaner in those cases.

Section 3: Logical Operators — `and`, `or`, `not`

What Are Logical Operators and Why Do They Exist?

Imagine you are at a supermarket entrance in Lagos. The sign says: “You may enter if you are wearing a mask AND have your receipt.” Both conditions must be true at the same time.

Or another sign: “This lane is for senior citizens OR pregnant women.” Only one needs to be true.

Logical operators let you combine multiple conditions in a single if statement. Without them, you would need to nest if inside if for every extra condition — which gets messy quickly.

Python has three logical operators:

Operator	Meaning	Returns `True` when…
`and`	Both must be true	Both conditions are `True`
`or`	At least one must be true	At least one condition is `True`
`not`	Reverses the result	The condition is `False`

3.1 The `and` Operator

and returns True only when both conditions are True. If either one is False, the whole expression is False.

Real-world analogy: You can only withdraw money from your account if (1) you have enough balance AND (2) your PIN is correct. Both must be true.

Example 6: `and` — Both Conditions True

a = 200
b = 33
c = 500
if a > b and c > a:
    print("Both conditions are True")

Expected output:

Both conditions are True

Breaking it down:

a > b → is 200 > 33? → True
c > a → is 500 > 200? → True
True and True → True → the body runs

Example 7: `and` — One Condition is False

score = 85
attendance = 60
if score >= 50 and attendance >= 75:
    print("Eligible for exam")
else:
    print("Not eligible — check attendance")

Expected output:

Not eligible — check attendance

Breaking it down:

score >= 50 → 85 >= 50 → True
attendance >= 75 → 60 >= 75 → False
True and False → False → the else block runs

3.2 The `or` Operator

or returns True if at least one condition is True. It only returns False when all conditions are False.

Real-world analogy: You can get a student discount if you have a student ID OR if you show your school letter. Only one proof is enough.

Example 8: `or` — At Least One True

a = 200
b = 33
c = 500
if a > b or a > c:
    print("At least one of the conditions is True")

Expected output:

At least one of the conditions is True

Breaking it down:

a > b → 200 > 33 → True
a > c → 200 > 500 → False
True or False → True (only one needs to be true) → body runs

Example 9: Range Validation with `and`

Checking that a score is valid (between 0 and 100):

score = 85

if score >= 0 and score <= 100:
    print("Valid score")
else:
    print("Invalid score")

Expected output:

Valid score

3.3 The `not` Operator

not reverses the result of a condition. If something is True, not makes it False, and vice versa.

Real-world analogy: A door that opens only when the alarm is NOT active.

Example 10: `not` — Reversing a Condition

a = 33
b = 200
if not a > b:
    print("a is NOT greater than b")

Expected output:

a is NOT greater than b

Breaking it down:

a > b → 33 > 200 → False
not False → True
Since the overall result is True, the body runs

3.4 Truth Tables

A truth table shows every possible combination of True/False and the result. This is exactly how Python evaluates your conditions internally.

and Truth Table:

Condition 1	Condition 2	Result
`True`	`True`	`True`
`True`	`False`	`False`
`False`	`True`	`False`
`False`	`False`	`False`

or Truth Table:

Condition 1	Condition 2	Result
`True`	`True`	`True`
`True`	`False`	`True`
`False`	`True`	`True`
`False`	`False`	`False`

3.5 Combining Multiple Operators

You can use and, or, and not together. Python evaluates them in this order: not first, then and, then or.

To avoid confusion and make your code readable, use parentheses to group conditions.

Example 11: Combined Operators with Parentheses

temperature = 25
is_raining = False
is_weekend = True

if (temperature > 20 and not is_raining) or is_weekend:
    print("Great day for outdoor activities!")

Expected output:

Great day for outdoor activities!

Breaking it down:

temperature > 20 → True
not is_raining → not False → True
True and True → True (inside the parentheses)
True or is_weekend → True or True → True
Body runs

username = "Emeka"
password = "secure123"
is_verified = True

if username and password and is_verified:
    print("Login successful")
else:
    print("Login failed")

Expected output:

Login successful

Breaking it down:

username → "Emeka" is truthy (non-empty string → True)
password → "secure123" is truthy → True
is_verified → True
True and True and True → True → body runs

Thinking prompt: What would happen if password = ""? An empty string is falsy — so the login would fail. This is exactly how login systems check credentials.

Section 4: Nested If Statements

What Is Nesting and Why Does It Exist?

A nested if is an if statement placed inside another if statement. This lets you check a condition, and then — only if that first condition passes — check an even more specific condition.

Real-world analogy: Imagine a security checkpoint at a government building in Abuja. First, the guard checks: “Do you have a valid ID?” (outer condition). Only if you pass that check does the guard ask: “Are you on the appointment list?” (inner condition). The second question is pointless without clearing the first.

Syntax

if outer_condition:
    # this runs only if outer_condition is True
    if inner_condition:
        # this runs only if BOTH are True
    else:
        # this runs if outer is True but inner is False
else:
    # this runs if outer_condition is False

Example 13: Basic Nested If

x = 41

if x > 10:
    print("Above ten,")
    if x > 20:
        print("and also above 20!")
    else:
        print("but not above 20.")

Expected output:

Above ten,
and also above 20!

Breaking it down:

x > 10 → 41 > 10 → True → enter the outer block
print("Above ten,") runs
x > 20 → 41 > 20 → True → enter the inner block
print("and also above 20!") runs

Thinking prompt: What would the output be if x = 15? The outer condition (> 10) is still true, but the inner (> 20) is false. So you would see “Above ten,” and “but not above 20.”

Example 14: Age and Licence Check (Driving Eligibility)

age = 25
has_licence = True

if age >= 18:
    if has_licence:
        print("You can drive")
    else:
        print("You need a licence")
else:
    print("You are too young to drive")

Expected output:

You can drive

Breaking it down:

age >= 18 → 25 >= 18 → True → enter outer block
has_licence → True → enter inner block
print("You can drive") runs

Example 15: Three Levels of Nesting (Student Eligibility)

A university portal in Enugu checks three conditions before certifying a student:

score = 85
attendance = 90
submitted = True

if score >= 60:
    if attendance >= 80:
        if submitted:
            print("Pass with good standing")
        else:
            print("Pass but missing assignment")
    else:
        print("Pass but low attendance")
else:
    print("Fail")

Expected output:

Pass with good standing

Breaking it down:

Level 1: score >= 60 → 85 >= 60 → True → enter
Level 2: attendance >= 80 → 90 >= 80 → True → enter
Level 3: submitted → True → enter
Output: “Pass with good standing”

Thinking prompt: Change submitted = False. What output do you get?

4.1 Nested If vs. Logical Operators — Which Should You Use?

Sometimes you can express the same logic using and instead of nested if. Which is better?

Option A — Nested If:

temperature = 25
is_sunny = True

if temperature > 20:
    if is_sunny:
        print("Perfect beach weather!")

Option B — Using and:

temperature = 25
is_sunny = True

if temperature > 20 and is_sunny:
    print("Perfect beach weather!")

Both produce the same output:

Perfect beach weather!

Rule of thumb:

Use and when both conditions are simple and equally important
Use nested if when the inner logic is more complex, has its own else, or depends heavily on the outer condition

Example 16: Grade with Extra Credit (Nested with elif)

score = 92
extra_credit = 5

if score >= 90:
    if extra_credit > 0:
        print("A+ grade")
    else:
        print("A grade")
elif score >= 80:
    print("B grade")
else:
    print("C grade or below")

Expected output:

A+ grade

Section 5: The `pass` Statement

What Is `pass` and Why Does It Exist?

In Python, every code block must contain at least one statement. If you write an if statement but leave the body empty, Python will throw a SyntaxError (a crash at startup).

The pass keyword solves this. It is a do-nothing placeholder — it tells Python “yes, I know this block is here, I just haven’t written the code for it yet.”

Real-world analogy: Think of pass as a “Coming Soon” sign on a shop front. The shop structure is built and the sign is there, but the goods have not arrived yet.

Example 17: The Problem Without `pass`

# This will CRASH with IndentationError or SyntaxError:
a = 33
b = 200

if b > a:
    # forgot to put code here!

Python does NOT allow an empty code block. You must put something.

Example 18: Solving It with `pass`

a = 33
b = 200

if b > a:
    pass

Expected output:

(nothing — the program runs without error)

Breaking it down:

b > a → 200 > 33 → True → enter the block
pass → Python sees this, does absolutely nothing, and moves on
No crash, no error

Example 19: Using `pass` During Development

When you are planning a system — say, an Abuja transport fee calculator — you might sketch the structure first and fill it in later:

age = 16

if age < 18:
    pass  # TODO: Add underage discount logic later
else:
    print("Full fare applies")

Expected output:

Full fare applies

This is extremely useful when building large programs. You outline all your conditions first, then fill them in one by one.

5.1 `pass` vs Comments — What Is the Difference?

This is a common beginner confusion.

# This CRASHES — a comment alone does not count as a statement:
score = 85
if score > 90:
    # This is excellent

# This WORKS — pass is an actual statement:
score = 85
if score > 90:
    pass  # This is excellent
print("Score processed")

Expected output:

Score processed

Key difference:

A comment (#) is completely ignored by Python — it is for human readers only
pass is an actual Python statement that gets executed (it just does nothing)

Example 20: `pass` in a Multi-Branch Statement

value = 50

if value < 0:
    print("Negative value")
elif value == 0:
    pass  # Zero case — no special action needed right now
else:
    print("Positive value")

Expected output:

Positive value

Section 6: The `match` Statement

What Is `match` and Why Does It Exist?

Imagine you have a variable — say, the number of a day of the week — and you want to do something different depending on which exact value it holds. You could write a long chain of if/elif/elif/elif... statements. But Python 3.10 introduced a much cleaner tool for this: the match statement.

The match statement is like a professional menu system:

You present a value to the menu
Python compares it against each “option” (called a case)
When it finds a match, it runs that option’s code
If nothing matches, you can provide a default

Real-world analogy: Think of a USSD bank menu in Nigeria: Press 1 for Balance, Press 2 for Transfer, Press 3 for Airtime. Each number pressed triggers a specific action.

Note: match was introduced in Python 3.10. Make sure you are using Python 3.10 or newer to use this feature.

Syntax

match expression:
    case value1:
        # code block
    case value2:
        # code block
    case _:
        # default — runs if nothing else matched

How it works step by step:

Python evaluates the expression once
It compares that value against each case, from top to bottom
When it finds a matching case, it runs that block and stops
_ (underscore) acts as the “catch-all” default — like else

Example 21: Days of the Week

day = 4
match day:
    case 1:
        print("Monday")
    case 2:
        print("Tuesday")
    case 3:
        print("Wednesday")
    case 4:
        print("Thursday")
    case 5:
        print("Friday")
    case 6:
        print("Saturday")
    case 7:
        print("Sunday")

Expected output:

Thursday

Breaking it down:

day = 4
Python checks case 1 → 4 ≠ 1 → skip
Python checks case 2 → 4 ≠ 2 → skip
Python checks case 3 → 4 ≠ 3 → skip
Python checks case 4 → 4 == 4 → match!
print("Thursday") runs
Python stops checking further

6.1 Default Case with `_`

If no case matches, Python does nothing by default. But you can add a catch-all case using _ (underscore) — it matches anything that wasn’t already matched.

Always place _ last, because it will match everything.

Example 22: Default with `_`

day = 9
match day:
    case 6:
        print("Today is Saturday")
    case 7:
        print("Today is Sunday")
    case _:
        print("Looking forward to the Weekend")

Expected output:

Looking forward to the Weekend

Breaking it down:

day = 9
case 6 → 9 ≠ 6 → skip
case 7 → 9 ≠ 7 → skip
case _ → this matches everything → runs

6.2 Combining Multiple Values with `|` (OR in Match)

You can check for more than one value in a single case using the pipe symbol |, which means “or” inside a match statement.

Example 23: Weekday vs Weekend

day = 4
match day:
    case 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5:
        print("Today is a weekday")
    case 6 | 7:
        print("I love weekends!")

Expected output:

Today is a weekday

Breaking it down:

day = 4
case 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 → does 4 match any of these? Yes! → runs

6.3 Guards — Adding `if` Conditions Inside `case`

You can add extra conditions to a case using a guard — an if statement written right inside the case line. The case only matches if the value matches AND the guard condition is True.

Example 24: Weekday in a Specific Month

month = 5
day = 4
match day:
    case 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 if month == 4:
        print("A weekday in April")
    case 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 if month == 5:
        print("A weekday in May")
    case _:
        print("No match")

Expected output:

A weekday in May

Breaking it down:

day = 4
First case: day is in 1–5 but month == 4 → 5 ≠ 4 → guard fails → skip
Second case: day is in 1–5 AND month == 5 → 5 == 5 → guard passes → match!
Output: “A weekday in May”

6.4 `match` vs `if/elif/else` — When Should You Use Which?

Situation	Use
Comparing one variable against many specific exact values	`match`
Checking ranges, complex logic, or combined conditions	`if/elif/else`
Checking two or three conditions only	`if/elif/else`
Building a menu system or command dispatcher	`match`

Guided Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Transport Fare Calculator (Shorthand + Ternary)

Scenario: You are building a quick bus fare checker for a Lagos ride-sharing app. If a passenger is a senior citizen (age 65 or above), they pay ₦200; otherwise they pay ₦500.

Objective: Use the ternary operator to assign the correct fare.

Steps:

Store the passenger’s age in a variable
Use the ternary operator to assign the fare based on age
Print the result

Solution:

age = 70
fare = 200 if age >= 65 else 500
print("Your fare is ₦", fare)

Expected output:

Your fare is ₦ 200

Self-check questions:

What would the output be if age = 30?
How would you extend this to also check if the passenger is a student (aged below 18)?

What-if challenge: Add a third condition — students (under 18) pay ₦150. Use a chained ternary or convert to if/elif/else.

Exercise 2: Student Exam Eligibility (Logical Operators)

Scenario: A university in Lagos requires a student to meet THREE conditions before sitting for an exam: a minimum score of 40, attendance of at least 75%, and all assignments submitted.

Objective: Use and to check all three conditions at once.

Steps:

Store the three values as variables
Write a single if using and to check all three
Print an appropriate message for pass and fail

Solution:

score = 55
attendance = 80
assignments_submitted = True

if score >= 40 and attendance >= 75 and assignments_submitted:
    print("Eligible to sit for the exam")
else:
    print("Not eligible. Check requirements.")

Expected output:

Eligible to sit for the exam

Self-check questions:

What would happen if attendance = 60?
Why is and more appropriate here than or?

What-if challenge: Change it so a student can ALSO be eligible if they have a letter from the Dean’s office (has_deans_letter = True), even if they don’t meet all three conditions. Which operator would you add?

Exercise 3: Bank Account Access Checker (Nested If)

Scenario: A Nigerian bank app checks access in two stages. First: is the account active? If yes, it then checks: is the PIN correct?

Objective: Use nested if to model this two-stage check.

Steps:

Set account_active and correct_pin variables
Write an outer if for account status
Write an inner if for PIN verification
Handle all four possible combinations with appropriate messages

Solution:

account_active = True
correct_pin = False

if account_active:
    if correct_pin:
        print("Access granted. Welcome!")
    else:
        print("Wrong PIN. Please try again.")
else:
    print("Account is inactive. Contact your branch.")

Expected output:

Wrong PIN. Please try again.

Self-check questions:

What message appears when account_active = False?
Could you rewrite this using and? What would you lose?

Exercise 4: Jollof Rice Order System with `match`

Scenario: A popular bukka (restaurant) in Abuja takes orders by number. You are building their ordering system.

Objective: Use match to print the correct dish based on the order number.

Steps:

Set an order number variable
Write a match statement with cases for dishes 1–4
Add a default _ case for invalid orders
Add a lunch-hour guard for premium dishes

Solution:

order = 3
is_lunch_hour = True

match order:
    case 1:
        print("You ordered: Jollof Rice")
    case 2:
        print("You ordered: Fried Rice")
    case 3 if is_lunch_hour:
        print("You ordered: Egusi Soup (Lunch Special!)")
    case 3:
        print("You ordered: Egusi Soup")
    case 4:
        print("You ordered: Pepper Soup")
    case _:
        print("Invalid order number. Please choose 1–4.")

Expected output:

You ordered: Egusi Soup (Lunch Special!)

Self-check questions:

What prints if order = 5?
What prints if order = 3 but is_lunch_hour = False?

Mini Project: Student Portal Decision System

Project Overview

You are building the core decision engine for a secondary school portal in Lagos. The system automatically determines a student’s status, recommends actions, and directs them to the right handler based on their data.

Stage 1: Basic Eligibility Check

Goal: Determine if a student passed or failed using a one-line ternary.

student_name = "Chidinma"
score = 68

result = "Passed" if score >= 50 else "Failed"
print(f"{student_name}: {result}")

Milestone output:

Chidinma: Passed

Stage 2: Full Eligibility with Logical Operators

Goal: Check score, attendance, and assignment completion together.

student_name = "Chidinma"
score = 68
attendance = 82
assignments_done = True

if score >= 50 and attendance >= 75 and assignments_done:
    print(f"{student_name} is eligible to proceed to the next term.")
else:
    print(f"{student_name} has unmet requirements. Please see your teacher.")

Milestone output:

Chidinma is eligible to proceed to the next term.

Stage 3: Grade Classification with Nested If

Goal: After confirming eligibility, determine the student’s exact grade.

student_name = "Chidinma"
score = 68
attendance = 82
assignments_done = True

if score >= 50 and attendance >= 75 and assignments_done:
    print(f"{student_name} is eligible.")
    if score >= 80:
        print("Grade: A — Excellent")
    elif score >= 70:
        print("Grade: B — Very Good")
    elif score >= 60:
        print("Grade: C — Good")
    else:
        print("Grade: D — Pass")
else:
    print(f"{student_name} does not meet requirements.")

Milestone output:

Chidinma is eligible.
Grade: C — Good

Stage 4: Portal Menu with `match`

Goal: After classification, direct the student to the correct portal section based on their status code.

student_name = "Chidinma"
status_code = 2  # 1=Honours, 2=Pass, 3=Probation, 4=Expelled

match status_code:
    case 1:
        print(f"{student_name}: Congratulations! You are on the Honours List.")
    case 2:
        print(f"{student_name}: You passed. Collect your result slip from the office.")
    case 3:
        print(f"{student_name}: You are on academic probation. See your counsellor.")
    case 4:
        print(f"{student_name}: Account suspended. Visit the admin block.")
    case _:
        print(f"Unknown status code for {student_name}. Contact IT support.")

Milestone output:

Chidinma: You passed. Collect your result slip from the office.

Stage 5: Full Portal System

Goal: Combine everything into one complete, working portal decision engine.

student_name = "Chidinma"
score = 68
attendance = 82
assignments_done = True
has_fees_paid = True

# Step 1: Quick status check using ternary
quick_status = "Active" if has_fees_paid else "Fee Defaulter"
print(f"Account Status: {quick_status}")

# Step 2: Eligibility check using logical operators
if score >= 50 and attendance >= 75 and assignments_done:
    eligible = True
    print(f"{student_name} meets all academic requirements.")
else:
    eligible = False
    print(f"{student_name} does not meet requirements.")

# Step 3: Nested grading (only if eligible)
if eligible:
    if score >= 80:
        grade = "A"
        status_code = 1
    elif score >= 70:
        grade = "B"
        status_code = 2
    elif score >= 60:
        grade = "C"
        status_code = 2
    else:
        grade = "D"
        status_code = 3
    print(f"Grade: {grade}")
else:
    status_code = 3

# Step 4: Portal routing with match
match status_code:
    case 1:
        print("Honours List — Certificate ready for collection.")
    case 2:
        print("Standard Pass — Collect result slip at the office.")
    case 3:
        print("On Probation — Visit your academic adviser.")
    case _:
        print("Status unclear — Contact administration.")

Final output:

Account Status: Active
Chidinma meets all academic requirements.
Grade: C
Standard Pass — Collect result slip at the office.

Reflection questions:

Which section of the code handles the “what if fees are not paid” case? How would you expand it?
What would happen if score = 40? Trace through the code step by step.
Could you replace the nested grading if/elif with a match + guards? Try it!

Optional extension: Add a not operator to show a warning if the student is NOT from the science department: is_science = False

Common Beginner Mistakes

Mistake 1: Forgetting the Colon in Shorthand If

Wrong:

if a > b  print("yes")

Correct:

if a > b: print("yes")

The colon is mandatory, even in one-line form.

Mistake 2: Confusing `and` with `or`

Wrong logic:

# Trying to allow senior citizens or students
age = 70
if age >= 65 and age <= 18:  # This will NEVER be True!
    print("Discount applies")

Correct:

age = 70
if age >= 65 or age <= 18:
    print("Discount applies")

A person cannot be both 65+ AND 18 or younger at the same time. Use or.

Mistake 3: Wrong Indentation in Nested If

Wrong:

if x > 10:
print("Above 10")  # IndentationError — not indented!
    if x > 20:
        print("Above 20")

Correct:

if x > 10:
    print("Above 10")
    if x > 20:
        print("Above 20")

Every level of nesting requires exactly 4 spaces of indentation.

Mistake 4: Leaving an Empty If Block Without `pass`

Wrong:

if age < 18:
    # handle later

This crashes because a comment alone is not a valid Python statement.

Correct:

if age < 18:
    pass  # handle later

Mistake 5: Putting the Default `_` Case First in `match`

Wrong:

match day:
    case _:
        print("Unknown day")  # This runs IMMEDIATELY — other cases never checked
    case 1:
        print("Monday")

Correct:

match day:
    case 1:
        print("Monday")
    case _:
        print("Unknown day")  # Always last

The _ case is a catch-all. Place it LAST, just like else.

Mistake 6: Using `=` Instead of `==` in Conditions

Wrong:

if score = 85:  # SyntaxError — this is assignment, not comparison
    print("Pass")

Correct:

if score == 85:  # == is comparison
    print("Pass")

Mistake 7: Over-Nesting When `and` Would Be Cleaner

Harder to read:

if is_active:
    if has_funds:
        if is_verified:
            print("Transaction approved")

Cleaner:

if is_active and has_funds and is_verified:
    print("Transaction approved")

Use and when all conditions are at the same level of importance and there are no separate else branches needed.

Reflection Questions

You need to assign “Day” or “Night” to a variable based on whether hour is less than 18. Write this using the ternary operator in one line.
A hospital system approves treatment only if: the patient has insurance (has_insurance = True) AND the doctor has confirmed the diagnosis (doctor_confirmed = True) OR the case is an emergency (is_emergency = True). Write the if condition using logical operators with parentheses.
What is the difference between pass and a # comment inside an if block? When do you actually need pass?
If you have a variable command that can be "start", "stop", "pause", or anything else, which is cleaner — a match statement or an if/elif/else chain? Why?

Trace this code manually and write down the output:

x = 15
y = 15
result = "X wins" if x > y else "Tie" if x == y else "Y wins"
print(result)

Completion Checklist

Before moving to the next lesson, confirm you can:

Lesson Summary

In this lesson you expanded far beyond basic if/else into the full toolkit of Python conditional programming:

Shorthand If — Write simple one-line if and if/else statements when the logic is short and readable.

Ternary (Conditional Expression) — Choose between two values or actions in a single line using value_if_true if condition else value_if_false.

Logical Operators — Combine conditions with and (both must be true), or (at least one must be true), and not (reverse the result). Use parentheses for clarity.

Nested If — Place if statements inside other if statements when decisions depend on each other. Prefer and for flat conditions; use nesting when inner logic needs its own else.

pass Statement — A safe, do-nothing placeholder that prevents SyntaxError in empty code blocks. Essential during development when sketching program structure.

match Statement (Python 3.10+) — A clean, readable alternative to long if/elif chains when comparing one variable against many exact values. Supports multiple values per case (|), a default case (_), and guards (inline if conditions).

Together, these tools give you precise, expressive control over how your Python programs make decisions — from a quick one-liner in a ride-hailing app to a full multi-stage portal system for a Nigerian university.

Quick Reference Card

Feature	Syntax	When to Use
Shorthand if	`if condition: action`	Simple one-action check
Ternary	`val1 if condition else val2`	Choose between two values/actions
`and`	`cond1 and cond2`	Both must be true
`or`	`cond1 or cond2`	At least one must be true
`not`	`not condition`	Reverse a condition
Nested if	`if a:` then inside `if b:`	Inner check depends on outer
`pass`	`if cond: pass`	Empty block placeholder
`match` basic	`match x: case y: ...`	One value vs many exact options
`match` default	`case _:`	Fallback for unmatched values
`match` multiple	`case 1 \\| 2 \\| 3:`	Multiple values, one action
`match` guard	`case x if condition:`	Value match + extra check

Lesson 13: Advanced Conditionals — Shorthand If, Logical Operators, Nested If, Pass, and Match

Lesson Introduction

Prerequisite Concepts Recap

Section 1: Shorthand If (One-Line If)

What Is It and Why Does It Exist?

Syntax

Example 1: Simple One-Line If

Section 2: Shorthand If…Else (The Ternary Operator / Conditional Expression)

What Is It and Why Does It Exist?

Syntax for Printing

Example 2: One-Line If/Else Printing

Syntax for Assigning a Value

Example 3: Assigning a Value With Ternary

Example 4: Setting a Default Value

Example 5: Chained Ternary (Three Outcomes in One Line)

When Should You Use Shorthand If?

Section 3: Logical Operators — and, or, not

What Are Logical Operators and Why Do They Exist?

3.1 The and Operator

Example 6: and — Both Conditions True

Example 7: and — One Condition is False

3.2 The or Operator

Example 8: or — At Least One True

Example 9: Range Validation with and

3.3 The not Operator

Example 10: not — Reversing a Condition

3.4 Truth Tables

3.5 Combining Multiple Operators

Example 11: Combined Operators with Parentheses

Example 12: Login Validation (Real-World Pattern)

Section 4: Nested If Statements

What Is Nesting and Why Does It Exist?

Syntax

Example 13: Basic Nested If

Example 14: Age and Licence Check (Driving Eligibility)

Example 15: Three Levels of Nesting (Student Eligibility)

4.1 Nested If vs. Logical Operators — Which Should You Use?

Example 16: Grade with Extra Credit (Nested with elif)

Section 5: The pass Statement

What Is pass and Why Does It Exist?

Example 17: The Problem Without pass

Example 18: Solving It with pass

Example 19: Using pass During Development

5.1 pass vs Comments — What Is the Difference?

Example 20: pass in a Multi-Branch Statement

Section 6: The match Statement

What Is match and Why Does It Exist?

Syntax

Example 21: Days of the Week

6.1 Default Case with _

Example 22: Default with _

6.2 Combining Multiple Values with | (OR in Match)

Example 23: Weekday vs Weekend

6.3 Guards — Adding if Conditions Inside case

Example 24: Weekday in a Specific Month

6.4 match vs if/elif/else — When Should You Use Which?

Guided Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Transport Fare Calculator (Shorthand + Ternary)

Exercise 2: Student Exam Eligibility (Logical Operators)

Exercise 3: Bank Account Access Checker (Nested If)

Exercise 4: Jollof Rice Order System with match

Mini Project: Student Portal Decision System

Project Overview

Stage 1: Basic Eligibility Check

Stage 2: Full Eligibility with Logical Operators

Stage 3: Grade Classification with Nested If

Stage 4: Portal Menu with match

Stage 5: Full Portal System

Common Beginner Mistakes

Mistake 1: Forgetting the Colon in Shorthand If

Mistake 2: Confusing and with or

Mistake 3: Wrong Indentation in Nested If

Mistake 4: Leaving an Empty If Block Without pass

Mistake 5: Putting the Default _ Case First in match

Mistake 6: Using = Instead of == in Conditions

Mistake 7: Over-Nesting When and Would Be Cleaner

Reflection Questions

Completion Checklist

Lesson Summary

Quick Reference Card

Section 3: Logical Operators — `and`, `or`, `not`

3.1 The `and` Operator

Example 6: `and` — Both Conditions True

Example 7: `and` — One Condition is False

3.2 The `or` Operator

Example 8: `or` — At Least One True

Example 9: Range Validation with `and`

3.3 The `not` Operator

Example 10: `not` — Reversing a Condition

Section 5: The `pass` Statement

What Is `pass` and Why Does It Exist?

Example 17: The Problem Without `pass`

Example 18: Solving It with `pass`

Example 19: Using `pass` During Development

5.1 `pass` vs Comments — What Is the Difference?

Example 20: `pass` in a Multi-Branch Statement

Section 6: The `match` Statement

What Is `match` and Why Does It Exist?

6.1 Default Case with `_`

Example 22: Default with `_`

6.2 Combining Multiple Values with `|` (OR in Match)

6.3 Guards — Adding `if` Conditions Inside `case`

6.4 `match` vs `if/elif/else` — When Should You Use Which?

Exercise 4: Jollof Rice Order System with `match`

Stage 4: Portal Menu with `match`

Mistake 2: Confusing `and` with `or`

Mistake 4: Leaving an Empty If Block Without `pass`

Mistake 5: Putting the Default `_` Case First in `match`

Mistake 6: Using `=` Instead of `==` in Conditions

Mistake 7: Over-Nesting When `and` Would Be Cleaner