PCEP Practice Question: Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators
A developer writes: print(10 * '5'). What is the output?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse the string repetition operator with arithmetic multiplication, leading them to mistakenly compute 10 * 5 = 50 instead of recognizing that the operand is a string literal.
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
✓
5555555555
In Python, the multiplication operator (*) when used with a string and an integer performs string repetition. The expression 10 * '5' repeats the string '5' ten times, resulting in the string '5555555555'. The print() function then outputs this concatenated string without quotes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
10
Why it's wrong here
Not correct.
- ✗
50
Why it's wrong here
That would be integer multiplication.
- ✗
5
Why it's wrong here
Not correct.
- ✓
5555555555
Why this is correct
String repetition.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 498 original PCEP practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PCEP practice question is part of Courseiva's free Python Institute certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PCEP exam.