Is < faster than <=?

Question

I'm reading a book where the author says that `if( a < 901 )` is faster than `if( a <= 900 )`. Not exactly as in this simple example, but there are slight performance changes on loop complex code. I suppose this has to do something with generated machine code in case it's even true.

Answer 1

I imagine that this is the case since in the first case, the computer only has to evaluate if a is less than 901. In the second case, the computer evaluates if a is less than 900 and if a is equal to 900 and then the computer puts an or operator between them. I.e. if (a<900 || a == 900) is equivalent to if (a<=900). Since the former is only requiring the computer to do one comparison, it is faster than the latter.