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Learn Comparison Operators in Python

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Comparison operators in Python are used to compare two values or expressions. They evaluate the relationship between the operands and return a Boolean value (True or False).

List of Comparison Operators

Operator Symbol Description Example (a = 10, b = 20)
Equal to == Checks if two values are equal a == b → False
Not equal to != Checks if two values are not equal a != b → True
Greater than > Checks if the left value is greater a > b → False
Less than < Checks if the left value is smaller a < b → True
Greater than or equal to >= Checks if left ≥ right a >= b → False
Less than or equal to <= Checks if left ≤ right a <= b → True

Real-Life Analogy for comparison operators

Comparison operators can be understood using real-life scenarios. Imagine you are comparing scores in a game:

  • Equal to (==): Did both players score the same points?
  • Not equal to (!=): Did Player A and Player B score different points?
  • Greater than (>): Did Player A score more than Player B?
  • Less than (<): Did Player A score less than Player B?
  • Greater than or equal to (>=): Did Player A score the same or more points than Player B?
  • Less than or equal to (<=): Did Player A score the same or fewer points than Player B?

Basic Syntax

value1 operator value2

The expression evaluates to True or False based on the relationship between value1 and value2.

Examples for comparison operators in Python

1. Equal to (==)
Checks if two values are equal.
a = 10
b = 20
print(a == b)  # Output: False

Example:1 Are two employees' salaries equal?

employee1_salary = 50000
employee2_salary = 50000
print(employee1_salary == employee2_salary)  # Output: True

Example:2 Not Equal to (!=)

Checks if two values are not equal.
a = 10
b = 20
print(a != b)  # Output: True

Real-Life Example: Are the prices of two products different?

product1_price = 25
product2_price = 30
print(product1_price != product2_price)  # Output: True

Example:3 Greater than (>)

Checks if the left value is greater than the right.
a = 10
b = 20
print(a > b)  # Output: False

Real-Life Example: Is the temperature today hotter than yesterday?

today_temp = 35
yesterday_temp = 30
print(today_temp > yesterday_temp)  # Output: True

Example 4. Less than (<)

Checks if the left value is smaller than the right.
a = 10
b = 20
print(a < b)  # Output: True

Real-Life Example: Is the speed of a car slower than the speed limit?

car_speed = 80
speed_limit = 100
print(car_speed < speed_limit)  # Output: True

Example 5. Greater than or Equal to (>=)

Checks if the left value is greater than or equal to the right.

a = 10
b = 20
print(a >= b)  # Output: False

Real-Life Example: Has a student scored the minimum marks required to pass?

student_score = 40
passing_score = 40
print(student_score >= passing_score)  # Output: True

Example 6. Less than or Equal to (<=)

Checks if the left value is less than or equal to the right.

a = 10
b = 20
print(a <= b)  # Output: True

Real-Life Example: Is the current inventory level less than or equal to the reorder threshold?

inventory_level = 15
reorder_threshold = 20
print(inventory_level <= reorder_threshold)  # Output: True

Using Comparison Operators with Conditional Statements

Comparison operators are commonly used in if statements to make decisions in your program.

Example: Granting access based on age

age = 18
if age >= 18:
    print("Access granted.")
else:
    print("Access denied.")

Comparison Operators in Iterables

1. Comparing Strings

Strings are compared lexicographically (dictionary order).

print("apple" < "banana")  # Output: True
2. Checking if a Value Exists

You can use the 'in' operator to check if a value exists in a list, tuple, or dictionary.

numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
print(3 in numbers)  # Output: True

Chaining Comparison Operators

You can chain multiple comparison operators in a single statement.

Example 1:

x = 15
print(10 < x <= 20)  # Output: True

This checks if x is greater than 10 and less than or equal to 20.

Real-World Application Example 2: Loan Eligibility

Compare multiple conditions to decide if a person qualifies for a loan.

age = 25
credit_score = 700
income = 50000
if age >= 18 and credit_score >= 650 and income > 30000:
    print("Loan Approved")
else:
    print("Loan Denied")
Example : Password Strength Check Ensure the password length meets a minimum requirement. 
password = "mypassword123"
if len(password) >= 8:
    print("Password is strong.")
else:
    print("Password is weak.")

Key Takeaways while using Comparison operators

Comparison operators always return True or False.
They are essential for decision-making in if-else statements, loops, and more.
Use chained comparisons for clean and efficient code.
They work with numbers, strings, and other comparable types.
Let me know if you'd like more advanced examples or clarification!