PCEP Practice Question: Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators
A developer writes the following code: a = 3; b = 2; c = a / b; d = a // b; e = a % b. What are the values of c, d, e?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the / operator (true division) with the // operator (floor division) and mistakenly think // returns a float, or they miscalculate the remainder by assuming it is always the fractional part of the division.
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
✓
c=1.5, d=1, e=1
In Python, the / operator performs true division, yielding a float result (3/2 = 1.5). The // operator performs floor division, which for positive numbers truncates the decimal part, giving 1. The % operator returns the remainder of the division, which is 3 - (1 * 2) = 1. Thus c=1.5, d=1, e=1.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
c=1, d=1, e=1
Why it's wrong here
True division gives 1.5, not 1.
- ✗
c=1.5, d=1, e=0
Why it's wrong here
Remainder is 1, not 0.
- ✓
c=1.5, d=1, e=1
Why this is correct
Correct values.
- ✗
c=1.5, d=1.5, e=0
Why it's wrong here
Floor division gives 1, not 1.5.
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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.