Check Positive, Negative, or Zero in Python

Zero is not positive. Put it in its own branch or you will lie to the user.

BeginnerBasic Python ProgramsExample 8 of 25
check-positive-negative-or-zero.py
1# Program to check if a number is positive, negative, or zero
2
3num = float(input("Enter a number: "))
4
5if num > 0:
6 print(num, "is positive")
7elif num < 0:
8 print(num, "is negative")
9else:
10 print("The number is zero")

Output

Enter a number: -3
-3.0 is negative

In this one

  • zero needs its own branch
  • > 0 is not "not negative"

What's going on

Three buckets: > 0, < 0, else. Zero has to be the else. Stick it under > 0 and you print "0.0 is positive". I've marked that wrong on quizzes.

float so -0 still comes through as 0.0. Fine.

After this program

If the idea is still fuzzy, read Day 1: Introduction to Python in the Python course. For a short check, try the Python quiz (300 questions). Stay with all 25 basic python programs, or see every topic on Python exercises.