PCEP Practice Question: Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators

A developer writes a program to calculate the average of three numbers: a=10; b=20; c=30; avg = a + b + c / 3; print(avg). What is the output?

⚠ Common exam trap

Python Institute often tests operator precedence by placing a division operation at the end of an expression without parentheses, tricking candidates into assuming left-to-right evaluation or that the entire sum is divided.

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

✓

40.0

The expression `a + b + c / 3` follows Python's operator precedence: division (`/`) has higher precedence than addition (`+`), so `c / 3` is evaluated first (30 / 3 = 10.0), then the additions are performed left to right: 10 + 20 + 10.0 = 40.0. The result is a float because division always returns a float in Python 3.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
20.0
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: would be correct if (a+b+c)/3.
✗
10.0
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: c/3 is 10.0, but a and b are added.
✓
40.0
Why this is correct
Correct: operator precedence gives 10+20+10.0 = 40.0.
✗
60.0
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: no operation yields 60.

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PCEP Practice Question: Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators

Why each option matters

Option-by-option breakdown

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