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.
Given the code: x = 10; y = 3.0; z = x / y; print(type(z)). What is the output?
<class 'str'>
Why wrong: Incorrect: not a string.
<class 'float'>
Correct: division always returns float.
<class 'complex'>
Why wrong: Incorrect: unless using complex numbers.
<class 'int'>
Why wrong: Incorrect: division returns float.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
<class 'float'>
In Python, when you divide an integer by a float using the / operator, the result is always a float. Here, x is an integer (10) and y is a float (3.0), so z = 10 / 3.0 evaluates to 3.3333333333333335, which is of type float. The print(type(z)) outputs <class 'float'>, making option B correct.
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.
<class 'str'>
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: not a string.
<class 'float'>
Why this is correct
Correct: division always returns float.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
<class 'complex'>
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: unless using complex numbers.
<class 'int'>
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: division returns float.
Common exam traps
Python Institute often tests the distinction between / (true division) and // (floor division), trapping candidates who mistakenly think dividing an integer by a float returns an integer or that the result type depends on exact divisibility.
Detailed technical explanation
Python 3's division operator (/) performs true division, always yielding a float, while the floor division operator (//) returns an integer if both operands are integers. This behavior is defined in PEP 238 and differs from Python 2, where / performed floor division on integers. In real-world scenarios, this ensures precision in scientific calculations where fractional results are expected, but it can cause unexpected type mismatches if a programmer assumes integer division.
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: <class 'float'> — In Python, when you divide an integer by a float using the / operator, the result is always a float. Here, x is an integer (10) and y is a float (3.0), so z = 10 / 3.0 evaluates to 3.3333333333333335, which is of type float. The print(type(z)) outputs <class 'float'>, making option B correct.
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 30, 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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