Python if statement syntax?

Question

I am working on a BMI calculator and have a bunch of if statements for the "status" part of it. For some reason I am getting an error through Eclipse saying that "Expected:)" but I have no clue what is missing.

Here is a sample of the code which is throwing the error:

BMI = mass / (height ** 2)

if(BMI < 18.5):
    status = "Underweight"

if(BMI => UNDERWEIGHT and BMI < NORMAL):
    status = "Normal"

if(BMI => NORMAL & BMI < OVERWEIGHT):
    status = "Overweight"

elif(BMI >= 30):
    status = "Obese"

Where do you see this error

Justin Jasmann
– Justin Jasmann

2013-10-14 00:53:55 +00:00
Commented Oct 14, 2013 at 0:53 — Justin Jasmann
– Justin Jasmann, Commented Oct 14, 2013 at 0:53

Stuart · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-14 01:40:21Z

4

As already noted on other answers, the error is caused by =>, and & is a bitwise operator which is not what you want in this context. But as per @Blckknght's comment, you can probably simplify this anyway by only comparing to the maximum value each time. Also, get rid of the parentheses as these are not needed in Python.

BMI = mass / (height ** 2)    
if BMI < UNDERWEIGHT:
    status = "Underweight"
elif BMI < NORMAL:
    status = "Normal"
elif BMI < OVERWEIGHT:
    status = "Overweight"
else:
    status = "Obese"

answered Oct 14, 2013 at 1:40

Stuart

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jwodder · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-14 00:53:57Z

3

=> does not mean anything in Python. "Greater than or equal to" is instead written >=.

answered Oct 14, 2013 at 0:53

jwodder

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1 Comment

Blckknght Over a year ago

Its worth noting that if you used a elif for the second and third if statements, and an else for the last one, you wouldn't need to do any >= tests at all. Another issue is the & in the third test.

Adam Morris · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-14 13:12:48Z

2

You might change:

if(BMI => NORMAL & BMI < OVERWEIGHT):

to:

if(BMI >= NORMAL and BMI < OVERWEIGHT):

With some of the other suggestions, you might re-write the entire statement as:

if BMI < UNDERWEIGHT:
    status = "Underweight"

elif BMI >= UNDERWEIGHT and BMI < NORMAL:
    status = "Normal"

elif BMI >= NORMAL and BMI < OVERWEIGHT:
    status = "Overweight"

elif BMI >= OVERWEIGHT:
    status = "Obese"

edited Oct 14, 2013 at 13:12

answered Oct 14, 2013 at 0:54

Adam Morris

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1 Comment

Winston Ewert Over a year ago

you may want to consider getting rid of ( and ) as well.

thefourtheye · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-14 01:19:35Z

0

BMI = mass / (height ** 2)

if (BMI < 18.5):
    status = "Underweight"
elif (UNDERWEIGHT < BMI < NORMAL):
    status = "Normal"
elif (NORMAL < BMI < OVERWEIGHT):
    status = "Overweight"
else
    status = "Obese"

In python we can check whether a number is in the range, like this

if 0 < MyNumber < 2:

This will be Truthy only when MyNumber is some number between 0 and 2.

answered Oct 14, 2013 at 1:19

thefourtheye

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1 Comment

Stuart Over a year ago

I think the OP wants <= rather than < in several places

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