If-elseif-else statements in PowerShell - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

Output of nested if-elseif-else in PowerShell

What is the output of this PowerShell script?

PowerShell

param($num = 15)

if ($num -lt 10) {
    Write-Output "Less than 10"
} elseif ($num -lt 20) {
    Write-Output "Between 10 and 19"
} else {
    Write-Output "20 or more"
}

A Less than 10

B No output

C 20 or more

D Between 10 and 19

💡 Hint

Check which condition matches the value 15.

The variable $num is 15. The first condition ($num -lt 10) is false. The elseif condition ($num -lt 20) is true, so it outputs 'Between 10 and 19'.

💻 Command Output

intermediate

PowerShell if-elseif-else with string comparison

What will this PowerShell script output when $color is set to 'blue'?

PowerShell

$color = 'blue'

if ($color -eq 'red') {
    Write-Output 'Stop'
} elseif ($color -eq 'yellow') {
    Write-Output 'Caution'
} elseif ($color -eq 'green') {
    Write-Output 'Go'
} else {
    Write-Output 'Unknown color'
}

A Unknown color

B Caution

C Go

D Stop

💡 Hint

Check if 'blue' matches any of the specified colors.

The variable $color is 'blue', which does not match 'red', 'yellow', or 'green', so the else block runs and outputs 'Unknown color'.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Identify the syntax error in this PowerShell if-elseif-else block

Which option contains the syntax error in this PowerShell code snippet?

PowerShell

if ($x -gt 10) {
    Write-Output 'Greater than 10'
} elseif ($x -lt 5) {
    Write-Output 'Less than 5'
} else
    Write-Output 'Between 5 and 10'

A Missing closing brace after elseif block

B Missing opening brace after else

C Incorrect comparison operator in if condition

D Missing dollar sign in variable name

💡 Hint

Check the else block syntax carefully.

The else block lacks an opening brace '{' before the Write-Output statement, causing a syntax error.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this PowerShell script not output anything?

Given this script, why is there no output?

PowerShell

$value = 0

if ($value) {
    Write-Output 'Value is true'
} elseif (-not $value) {
    Write-Output 'Value is false'
} else {
    Write-Output 'Value is unknown'
}

A Because 0 is treated as false, so the if block is skipped and elseif condition is true, but Write-Output is not called

B Because PowerShell treats 0 as true, so the if block runs but Write-Output is missing

C Because 0 is treated as false, the if block is skipped, the elseif condition is true, so it outputs 'Value is false'

D Because the script has a syntax error and does not run

💡 Hint

Remember how PowerShell treats 0 in boolean context.

In PowerShell, 0 is treated as false. So the if ($value) condition is false, the elseif (-not $value) is true, so it outputs 'Value is false'.

🚀 Application

expert

Determine the final value of $result after this PowerShell script runs

What is the value of $result after running this script?

PowerShell

$score = 85

if ($score -ge 90) {
    $result = 'A'
} elseif ($score -ge 80) {
    $result = 'B'
} elseif ($score -ge 70) {
    $result = 'C'
} elseif ($score -ge 60) {
    $result = 'D'
} else {
    $result = 'F'
}

A 'B'

B 'A'

C 'C'

D 'F'

💡 Hint

Check the conditions in order and see which one matches 85 first.

85 is not greater or equal to 90, so first if fails. 85 is greater or equal to 80, so $result is set to 'B'. The rest are skipped.