PCEP Practice Question: Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators
Exhibit
a = 10 // 3 b = 10 % 3 print(a, b)
Refer to the exhibit. What is the output?
⚠ Common exam trap
Python Institute often tests the difference between `/` (true division) and `//` (floor division) and `%` (modulo), and the trap here is that candidates confuse the modulo operator `%` with floor division `//`, expecting the integer quotient instead of the remainder.
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
✓
3 1
The code in the exhibit is `print(10//3, 10%3)`. The `//` operator performs floor division, which for positive numbers truncates the decimal part, so `10//3` yields 3. The `%` operator returns the remainder of the division, `10%3` yields 1. Thus the output is '3 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.
- ✗
3.0 1.0
Why it's wrong here
10 / 3 produces 3.333..., not 3.0, so the first value is wrong; only 5 // 2 correctly floors to 2, not 1.0. The option tempts by pairing plausible-looking floats, but true division never truncates to a whole number here.
- ✗
3 3
Why it's wrong here
10 / 3 yields 3.333..., not 3, and 5 // 2 yields 2, not 3, so both values are wrong. The option tempts because integer-looking output appears when using // for both operands, but the first expression uses true division.
- ✗
3.333 1
Why it's wrong here
True division of 10 by 3 yields 3.333..., and 5 // 2 floors to 2, not 1, so this pairing misstates the floor-division result. The option tempts because it correctly shows true division's repeating decimal, which would appear if the second expression were 5 % 2 instead.
- ✓
3 1
Why this is correct
The exhibit's code produces two values on one line separated by a space, matching the stem's expected output. The first value derives from the initial computation and the second from the subsequent operation, giving the precise sequence 3 1 as shown.
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