This PCEP practice question tests your understanding of data types, variables, basic i/o and operators. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A developer wrote: x = 10; y = 5; x += y * 2. What are the values of x and y after execution?
x=15, y=5
Why wrong: x would be 15 only if x+=y, not x+=y*2.
x=30, y=5
Why wrong: x would be 30 only if x+=y*2 were x+=y*2+? Incorrect.
x=20, y=5
Correct: y*2=10, x+=10 yields 20, y unchanged.
x=20, y=10
Why wrong: y is not modified.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
x=20, y=5
Option C is correct because the expression `x += y * 2` is evaluated as `x = x + (y * 2)`. Given `x = 10` and `y = 5`, `y * 2` equals 10, then `x + 10` equals 20, so `x` becomes 20. The value of `y` remains unchanged at 5 because the assignment operator `+=` only modifies `x`.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
x=15, y=5
Why it's wrong here
x would be 15 only if x+=y, not x+=y*2.
x=30, y=5
Why it's wrong here
x would be 30 only if x+=y*2 were x+=y*2+? Incorrect.
x=20, y=5
Why this is correct
Correct: y*2=10, x+=10 yields 20, y unchanged.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
x=20, y=10
Why it's wrong here
y is not modified.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the misconception that `x += y * 2` means `(x + y) * 2`, leading candidates to pick 30, or that `y` is also modified, causing confusion with the assignment operator's scope.
Detailed technical explanation
In Python, the augmented assignment operator `+=` performs an in-place operation for mutable types but for integers (immutable) it reassigns `x` to a new object. Operator precedence follows PEMDAS: multiplication (`*`) has higher precedence than addition (`+`) and augmented assignment (`+=`), so `y * 2` is computed first. This behavior is consistent with the Python language reference (section 6.16) and is critical in scenarios like accumulating values in loops where order of operations must be carefully managed.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the PCEP exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators — This question tests Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: x=20, y=5 — Option C is correct because the expression `x += y * 2` is evaluated as `x = x + (y * 2)`. Given `x = 10` and `y = 5`, `y * 2` equals 10, then `x + 10` equals 20, so `x` becomes 20. The value of `y` remains unchanged at 5 because the assignment operator `+=` only modifies `x`.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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.
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