← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

Joining conditions with AND and OR

AND is true only when both conditions are true. OR is true when at least one is true. Saturday AND sunny needs both; Saturday OR sunny needs just one.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Algorithms with Branching and Repetition — Module 12, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Algorithms, Flowcharts and Pseudocode — Module 10, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Tracing and Debugging Algorithms — Module 12

Understanding Joining conditions with AND and OR in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: Both conditions must be true to pack the towel, which is what AND checks. Either condition on its own is enough, so OR joins them in one decision instead of two separate decisions. OR is true when at least one condition is true. It is sunny, so the condition is true even though it is not Saturday. OR is true if one condition, or both, are true. The rule needs both things to be true, so use AND. With OR, someone with just a ticket could get in. The pool should close when either one happens, so use OR. With AND, it would stay open in rain without lightning.

Common mistakes: The plan needs BOTH things true, so it must use AND. With OR, it is Saturday so the beach plan would run even though it is not sunny. It should be: IF Saturday AND sunny THEN. You need a coat if it is raining or if it is cold, so just one condition is enough. That needs OR. With AND, you would only get a coat when both are true. It should be: IF raining OR cold THEN.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 85–104) and word search (Modules 73–104).

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Learning
Duo
A rule says: IF it is Saturday AND it is sunny THEN go to the beach. It is Saturday but it is raining. Do you go to the beach?
Yes, because one condition is trueNo, because AND needs both conditions to be true
Matches
IF it is Saturday OR it is sunny THEN go to the beach (only on sunny Saturdays)
↓
OR lets the steps run on any Saturday or any sunny day. It should be AND because both must be true.
Applying
Meanings
Term
AND / OR
Meaning
AND is true only when both conditions are true. OR is true when at least one is true. Saturday AND sunny needs both; Saturday OR sunny needs just one.
Practice
IF day = "Saturday" AND weather = "sunny" THEN
Testing
Gaps
IF day = "Saturday"
Check Answer
Spots
2SET sunny TO false
3IF Saturday OR sunny THEN

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Quick Questions

1. A rule says: IF it is Saturday AND it is sunny THEN go to the beach. It is Saturday but it is raining. Do you go to the beach?
A. Yes, because one condition is true
B. No, because AND needs both conditions to be true ✓
AND is only true when BOTH conditions are true. Raining means 'sunny' is false, so the whole condition is false.
2. A rule says: IF it is Saturday OR it is sunny THEN go to the beach. It is Monday and it is sunny. Do you go to the beach?
A. Yes, because OR needs at least one condition to be true ✓
B. No, because it is not Saturday
OR is true when at least one condition is true. It is sunny, so the condition is true even though it is not Saturday.
3. Which joining word is true only when both conditions are true?
A. OR
B. AND ✓
AND needs both conditions to be true. OR only needs one.
4. Which joining word is true when at least one condition is true?
A. OR ✓
B. AND
OR is true if one condition, or both, are true.
5. You can enter the school disco only if you have a ticket AND you are in Year 5 or 6. Which condition is written correctly?
A. IF has ticket AND year is 5 or 6 THEN enter ✓
B. IF has ticket OR year is 5 or 6 THEN enter
The rule needs both things to be true, so use AND. With OR, someone with just a ticket could get in.

Match the Pairs

IF it is Saturday AND it is sunny THEN → The steps run only when both conditions are true: it is Saturday and it is sunny.
IF it is raining OR it is windy THEN → The steps run when at least one condition is true: rain, wind, or both.
Use AND when both things must be true before the school bag is packed for swimming → IF it is Tuesday AND it is swimming day THEN pack towel
Use OR when either one of two things is enough to take an umbrella → IF it is raining OR it is very sunny THEN take umbrella
IF it is Saturday OR it is sunny THEN go to the beach (only on sunny Saturdays) → OR lets the steps run on any Saturday or any sunny day. It should be AND because both must be true.
IF score > 50 AND score < 20 THEN say "Try again" → No score can be both over 50 and under 20, so AND is never true. It should be OR if either one is enough.

Key Term

AND / OR
AND is true only when both conditions are true. OR is true when at least one is true. Saturday AND sunny needs both; Saturday OR sunny needs just one.

Fill in the Blanks

1. IF day = "Saturday" AND weather = "sunny" THEN SAY "Go to the beach" END IF
Hint: Type the joining word that needs both conditions to be true.
2. IF day = "Saturday" OR day = "Sunday" THEN SAY "No school today" END IF
Hint: Type the joining word that is true when at least one condition is true.
3. IF age >= 10 AND age <= 12 THEN SAY "Join the group" END IF
Hint: Type the word that lets one decision check two conditions that must both be true.
4. IF ticket = "yes" AND money > 5 THEN SAY "Enter the show" END IF
Hint: Type the keyword that starts a decision.
5. IF mark < 40 OR mark > 90 THEN SAY "Check this mark" END IF
Hint: Type the joining word so that either condition on its own is enough.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A SET Saturday TO true
B SET sunny TO false
C IF Saturday OR sunny THEN
D SAY Go to the beach
Line C — The plan needs BOTH things true, so it must use AND. With OR, it is Saturday so the beach plan would run even though it is not sunny. It should be: IF Saturday AND sunny THEN.
Question 2
A IF raining AND cold THEN
B SAY Take a coat
C ELSE
D SAY No coat needed
Line A — You need a coat if it is raining or if it is cold, so just one condition is enough. That needs OR. With AND, you would only get a coat when both are true. It should be: IF raining OR cold THEN.
Question 3
A INPUT age
B IF age>=10 AND <=12 THEN
C SAY Join the Year 5-6 club
D ELSE
E SAY Not this time
Line B — Each side of AND is a full condition of its own, so the second one needs the variable too. It should be: IF age>=10 AND age<=12 THEN.
Question 4
A IF homework, chores THEN
B SAY You can play games
C ELSE
D SAY Finish your jobs first
Line A — Conditions are joined with the word AND (or OR), not with a comma. It should be: IF homework AND chores THEN.
Question 5
A SET hasTicket TO true
B SET hasPass TO false
C SET inside TO no
D IF hasTicket AND hasPass THEN
E SET inside TO yes
Line D — A person gets in with a ticket or a pass, so only one needs to be true. That needs OR. With AND, this person (who has a ticket but no pass) would be kept out. It should be: IF hasTicket OR hasPass THEN.

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