If statement in Go - Mini Project: Build & Apply

If Statement Basics in Go

📖 Scenario: You are creating a simple program to check if a number is positive or not. This is like checking if the temperature outside is above zero to decide if you need a jacket.

🎯 Goal: Build a Go program that uses an if statement to check if a number is positive and print a message accordingly.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create an integer variable named number with the value 10

Create a boolean variable named isPositive to store if the number is positive

Use an if statement to set isPositive to true if number is greater than 0

Print "The number is positive" if isPositive is true

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Checking conditions like this is common in programs that need to make decisions, such as validating user input or controlling game logic.

💼 Career

Understanding if statements is essential for any programming job because it helps you control the flow of your program based on different situations.

1

Create the number variable

Create an integer variable called number and set it to 10.

Go

// Your code here

Hint

Use number := 10 to create the variable.

2

Create the isPositive variable

Create a boolean variable called isPositive and set it to false.

Go

package main

func main() {
    number := 10
    // Your code here
}

Hint

Use isPositive := false to create the variable.

3

Use if statement to check positivity

Use an if statement to check if number is greater than 0. Inside the if block, set isPositive to true.

Go

package main

func main() {
    number := 10
    isPositive := false
    // Your code here
}

Hint

Write if number > 0 { isPositive = true }.

4

Print the result

Use fmt.Println to print "The number is positive" only if isPositive is true. Remember to import fmt.

Go

package main

func main() {
    number := 10
    isPositive := false
    if number > 0 {
        isPositive = true
    }
    // Your code here
}

Hint

Use if isPositive { fmt.Println("The number is positive") }.

Practice

1. What does an if statement do in Go?

easy

A. It runs code only if a condition is true.

B. It repeats code multiple times.

C. It stores data in a variable.

D. It defines a new function.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of an if statement

   An if statement checks a condition and runs code only when that condition is true.

2. Step 2: Compare options with the if statement behavior

   Only "It runs code only if a condition is true." describes running code based on a condition being true.

3. Final Answer:

   It runs code only if a condition is true. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   If statement = runs code if true [OK]

Hint: If checks true/false to decide running code [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing if with loops
• Thinking if stores data
• Mixing if with function definitions

2. Which of these is the correct syntax for an if statement in Go?

easy

A. if (x > 10) then { fmt.Println("Big") }

B. if x > 10 { fmt.Println("Big") }

C. if x > 10: fmt.Println("Big")

D. if x > 10 { fmt.Println("Big") else }

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Go if statement syntax

   Go uses if condition { code } without parentheses or 'then'.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   if x > 10 { fmt.Println("Big") } matches Go syntax exactly. Options A, C, and D have syntax errors.

3. Final Answer:

   if x > 10 { fmt.Println("Big") } -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Go if syntax = if condition { } [OK]

Hint: Go if uses braces, no 'then' or colons [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding 'then' keyword
• Using parentheses around condition
• Using colon instead of braces

3. What is the output of this Go code?

package main
import "fmt"
func main() {
  x := 5
  if x > 3 {
    fmt.Println("Yes")
  } else {
    fmt.Println("No")
  }
}

medium

A. Syntax error

B. No

C. 5

D. Yes

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the condition in the if statement

   The variable x is 5, and the condition is x > 3, which is true.

2. Step 2: Determine which block runs

   Since the condition is true, the code inside the if block runs, printing "Yes".

3. Final Answer:

   Yes -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   x=5 > 3 is true, prints "Yes" [OK]

Hint: If condition true runs if-block, else runs else-block [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing which block runs
• Thinking it prints the variable
• Assuming syntax error due to else

4. Find the error in this Go code:

package main
import "fmt"
func main() {
  x := 10
  if x > 5
    fmt.Println("Big")
}

medium

A. Variable x not declared

B. Missing semicolon after x := 10

C. Missing braces { } after if condition

D. Wrong import statement

Solution

1. Step 1: Check if statement syntax

   In Go, the if condition must be followed by braces { } to group the code.

2. Step 2: Identify the missing part

   The code after if lacks braces, causing a syntax error.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing braces { } after if condition -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   If needs braces { } after condition [OK]

Hint: Always use braces { } after if condition [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting braces after if
• Adding unnecessary semicolons
• Misunderstanding import errors

5. You want to print "Positive", "Zero", or "Negative" based on an integer variable n. Which code correctly uses if statements to do this?

hard

A. if n > 0 { fmt.Println("Positive") } else if n == 0 { fmt.Println("Zero") } else { fmt.Println("Negative") }

B. if n > 0 { fmt.Println("Positive") } if n == 0 { fmt.Println("Zero") } else { fmt.Println("Negative") }

C. if n > 0 { fmt.Println("Positive") } else if n <= 0 { fmt.Println("Negative") } else { fmt.Println("Zero") }

D. if n >= 0 { fmt.Println("Positive") } else if n == 0 { fmt.Println("Zero") } else { fmt.Println("Negative") }

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the conditions for each case

   Positive means n > 0, zero means n == 0, negative means n < 0.

2. Step 2: Check each option's logic

   if n > 0 { fmt.Println("Positive") } else if n == 0 { fmt.Println("Zero") } else { fmt.Println("Negative") } correctly checks n > 0, then n == 0, else negative. if n > 0 { fmt.Println("Positive") } if n == 0 { fmt.Println("Zero") } else { fmt.Println("Negative") } has two separate ifs causing multiple prints. if n > 0 { fmt.Println("Positive") } else if n <= 0 { fmt.Println("Negative") } else { fmt.Println("Zero") } swaps zero and negative logic. if n >= 0 { fmt.Println("Positive") } else if n == 0 { fmt.Println("Zero") } else { fmt.Println("Negative") } wrongly treats n >= 0 as positive.

3. Final Answer:

   if n > 0 { fmt.Println("Positive") } else if n == 0 { fmt.Println("Zero") } else { fmt.Println("Negative") } -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct if-else chain matches conditions [OK]

Hint: Use else if to check exclusive conditions in order [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using multiple ifs causing multiple outputs
• Mixing condition order
• Wrong comparison operators