PCEP Practice Question: Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators
A developer writes the following code: result = (5 + 3) * 2 ** 3 // 4. What is the value of result?
⚠ Common exam trap
Python Institute often tests the combination of exponentiation and floor division with parentheses, where candidates forget that ** binds tighter than * and //, leading them to compute (5+3)*2 = 16, then 16**3 = 4096, then 4096//4 = 1024, or they ignore the // and just compute 8*8=64.
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
✓
16
Python follows the operator precedence rules: exponentiation (**) is evaluated before multiplication and division, and multiplication/division are evaluated before addition/subtraction. The expression evaluates as: 2 ** 3 = 8, then (5 + 3) = 8, then 8 * 8 = 64, then 64 // 4 = 16. The integer division (//) yields an integer result of 16.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
8
Why it's wrong here
The parentheses give 8, then exponentiation yields 2 ** 3 = 8, so 8 * 8 = 64 and 64 // 4 = 16, not 8. It is tempting because 8 appears as the parenthesised sum and as the exponent result, inviting a mistaken cancellation.
- ✓
16
Why this is correct
Parentheses force 5 + 3 to evaluate first, giving 8. Exponentiation binds tighter than floor division, so 2 ** 3 yields 8, and 8 * 8 gives 64. Floor division by 4 then returns 16, satisfying Python's precedence order of parentheses, exponent, multiplication, then floor division.
- ✗
13
Why it's wrong here
The expression evaluates to 16: (5 + 3) = 8, 2 ** 3 = 8, 8 * 8 = 64, then 64 // 4 = 16. It is tempting because 13 resembles the result of adding 5 + 8, misreading the operators as sequential addition rather than multiplication and floor division.
- ✗
64
Why it's wrong here
Exponentiation binds tighter than multiplication, so 2 ** 3 evaluates to 8, then (5 + 3) * 8 // 4 gives 64 // 4, which is 16, not 64. It is tempting because 64 is the intermediate product before the floor division by 4 is applied.
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