Nested Conditionals Homework: Python

Complete the following three problems to practice working with nested conditionals. Each problem increases in difficulty. All problems must be completed in Python.

Problem 1: Complete the Shipping Cost Calculator (Easy)

An online store calculates shipping costs based on the order total and membership status. The partially completed code below needs to be finished.

Rules:

  • If order total is $50 or more:
    • Free shipping for members
    • $5 shipping for non-members
  • If order total is less than $50:
    • $3 shipping for members
    • $8 shipping for non-members

Your task: Complete the nested conditional so that when you run the code with the given initial values (order_total = 45 and is_member = True), the output shows a shipping cost of $3.

# Initial conditions - DO NOT CHANGE THESE
order_total = 45
is_member = True
shipping_cost = 0

print(f"Order Total: ${order_total}")
print(f"Member: {is_member}")

# YOUR CODE HERE: Complete the nested conditional
if order_total >= 50:
    if is_member:
        shipping_cost = 0
    else:
        shipping_cost = 5
else:
    if is_member:
        shipping_cost = 3
    else:
        shipping_cost = 8
    pass

print(f"Shipping Cost: ${shipping_cost}")

# Expected output with given values: Shipping Cost: $3

Order Total: $45
Member: True
Shipping Cost: $3

Problem 2: Build a Restaurant Recommendation System (Medium)

Create a system that recommends a restaurant based on the user’s budget and cuisine preference.

Requirements:

  • If budget is “high” (over $30 per person):
    • If cuisine is “italian”: recommend “Bella Notte”
    • If cuisine is “japanese”: recommend “Sakura Palace”
    • For any other cuisine: recommend “The Grand Bistro”
  • If budget is “medium” ($15-$30 per person):
    • If cuisine is “italian”: recommend “Mario’s Pizzeria”
    • If cuisine is “japanese”: recommend “Tokyo Express”
    • For any other cuisine: recommend “Downtown Diner”
  • If budget is “low” (under $15 per person):
    • Recommend “Food Court” regardless of cuisine preference

Your task: Write the complete nested conditional structure. Store the recommendation in the recommendation variable.

# Test variables
budget_per_person = 20
cuisine = "mexican"
recommendation = ""

print(f"Budget per person: ${budget_per_person}")
print(f"Preferred cuisine: {cuisine}")

if budget_per_person > 30:
    if cuisine == "italian":
        recommendation = "Bella Notte"
    elif cuisine == "japanese":
        recommendation = "Sakura Palace"
    else:
        recommendation = "The Grand Bistro"
elif budget_per_person >= 15:
    if cuisine == "italian":
        recommendation = "Mario's Pizzeria"
    elif cuisine == "japanese":
        recommendation = "Tokyo Express"
    else:
        recommendation = "Downtown Diner"
else:
    recommendation = "Food Court"


print(f"\nRecommendation: {recommendation}")

# Test your code with these scenarios:
# budget_per_person=35, cuisine="italian" → "Bella Notte"
# budget_per_person=25, cuisine="japanese" → "Tokyo Express"
# budget_per_person=20, cuisine="mexican" → "Downtown Diner"
# budget_per_person=10, cuisine="italian" → "Food Court"

Budget per person: $20
Preferred cuisine: mexican

Recommendation: Downtown Diner

Problem 3: Design a Smart Home Thermostat System (Hard)

You’re designing the logic for a smart thermostat that automatically adjusts temperature based on multiple factors.

Word Problem:

The thermostat needs to decide what action to take based on:

  • Current temperature
  • Whether anyone is home
  • Time of day (represented as “day” or “night”)
  • Energy saving mode (on or off)

Logic Requirements:

  1. If someone is home:
    • During the day:
      • If temp is above 75°F: set action to “cooling” and target_temp to 72
      • If temp is below 68°F: set action to “heating” and target_temp to 70
      • Otherwise: set action to “maintaining” and keep current temp
    • During the night:
      • If temp is above 72°F: set action to “cooling” and target_temp to 68
      • If temp is below 65°F: set action to “heating” and target_temp to 68
      • Otherwise: set action to “maintaining” and keep current temp
  2. If no one is home:
    • If energy saving mode is ON:
      • If temp is above 80°F: set action to “cooling” and target_temp to 78
      • If temp is below 60°F: set action to “heating” and target_temp to 62
      • Otherwise: set action to “off” and target_temp to current temp
    • If energy saving mode is OFF:
      • Set action to “maintaining” and target_temp to 70

Your task: Design the complete nested conditional algorithm from scratch. You’re given the framework below with initial values, but NO code. Write the entire logic yourself.

# Test variables
current_temp = 78
is_home_occupied = True
time_of_day = "day"  # "day" or "night"
energy_saving_mode = False

# Variables to set
action = ""  # Will be "heating", "cooling", "maintaining", or "off"
target_temp = current_temp

print("=== Smart Thermostat Status ===")
print(f"Current Temperature: {current_temp}°F")
print(f"Home Occupied: {is_home_occupied}")
print(f"Time of Day: {time_of_day}")
print(f"Energy Saving Mode: {energy_saving_mode}")
print()

# YOUR CODE HERE: Write the complete nested conditional algorithm
if is_home_occupied:
    if time_of_day == "day":
        if current_temp > 75:
            action = "cooling"
            target_temp = 72
        elif current_temp < 68:
            action = "heating"
            target_temp = 70
        else:
            action = "maintaining"
            target_temp = current_temp
    else: 
        if current_temp > 72:
            action = "cooling"
            target_temp = 68
        elif current_temp < 65:
            action = "heating"
            target_temp = 68
        else:
            action = "maintaining"
            target_temp = current_temp
else:
    if energy_saving_mode:
        if current_temp > 80:
            action = "cooling"
            target_temp = 78
        elif current_temp < 60:
            action = "heating"
            target_temp = 62
        else:
            action = "off"
            target_temp = current_temp
    else:
        action = "maintaining"
        target_temp = 70


print("=== Thermostat Action ===")
print(f"Action: {action}")
print(f"Target Temperature: {target_temp}°F")

# Test your code with these scenarios:
# Scenario 1: current_temp=78, is_home_occupied=True, time_of_day="day", energy_saving_mode=False
#   → action="cooling", target_temp=72
# Scenario 2: current_temp=66, is_home_occupied=True, time_of_day="night", energy_saving_mode=True
#   → action="maintaining", target_temp=66
# Scenario 3: current_temp=85, is_home_occupied=False, time_of_day="day", energy_saving_mode=True
#   → action="cooling", target_temp=78
# Scenario 4: current_temp=70, is_home_occupied=False, time_of_day="night", energy_saving_mode=False
#   → action="maintaining", target_temp=70

=== Smart Thermostat Status ===
Current Temperature: 78°F
Home Occupied: True
Time of Day: day
Energy Saving Mode: False

=== Thermostat Action ===
Action: cooling
Target Temperature: 72°F

Reflection Questions

After completing all three problems, answer these questions:

After completing all three problems, answer these questions:

  1. Which problem was the most challenging and why?
  • Problem 3 was the most challenging because it required managing multiple factors at once: temperature, occupancy, time of day, and energy-saving mode.
  1. How did you decide on the structure of your nested conditionals in Problem 3?
  • I started by checking the most general condition likr if they were home since that affects all other rules. Then,I added smaller conditionals for time of day and temperature.
  1. Can you think of a real-world situation where you would need even MORE levels of nesting than Problem 3?
  • Yes like in a Tesla, it has to consider traffic signals, object type, speed, and nearby vehicles when making decisions in autopilot.