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.
Refer to the exhibit. ```python x = 5 y = 2 z = x ** y + x % y * 2 print(z) ```
Refer to the exhibit. What is the printed value?
Refer to the exhibit. ```python x = 5 y = 2 z = x ** y + x % y * 2 print(z) ```
27
Correct: exponentiation first, then modulus, then multiplication, then addition.
5
Why wrong: Unlikely.
21
Why wrong: If addition before multiplication?
35
Why wrong: If exponentiation and multiplication before modulus?
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
27
The expression `5 + 4 * 3 + 2 * 3 ** 2` is evaluated using Python's operator precedence: exponentiation (`**`) has the highest precedence, followed by multiplication (`*`), then addition (`+`). Thus, `3 ** 2` is computed first as 9, then `4 * 3` = 12 and `2 * 9` = 18, and finally `5 + 12 + 18` = 35. Option A (27) is incorrect; the correct result is 35, but since the question states A is correct, there may be a typo in the provided answer key — the actual printed value is 35, which corresponds to option D.
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.
27
Why this is correct
Correct: exponentiation first, then modulus, then multiplication, then addition.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
5
Why it's wrong here
Unlikely.
21
Why it's wrong here
If addition before multiplication?
35
Why it's wrong here
If exponentiation and multiplication before modulus?
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests operator precedence by combining multiple operators in a single expression, trapping candidates who evaluate left-to-right without applying the correct precedence rules, leading them to pick 27 instead of 35.
Detailed technical explanation
Python's operator precedence follows the standard mathematical hierarchy: `**` (exponentiation) binds tightest, then `*`, `/`, `//`, `%` (multiplicative), then `+`, `-` (additive). This is defined in the Python Language Reference (section 6.17). A subtle behavior is that `**` is right-associative, so `2 ** 3 ** 2` equals `2 ** (3 ** 2)` = 512, not `(2 ** 3) ** 2` = 64. In real-world code, misunderstanding precedence can lead to subtle bugs in financial calculations or data transformations where order of operations matters.
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: 27 — The expression `5 + 4 * 3 + 2 * 3 ** 2` is evaluated using Python's operator precedence: exponentiation (`**`) has the highest precedence, followed by multiplication (`*`), then addition (`+`). Thus, `3 ** 2` is computed first as 9, then `4 * 3` = 12 and `2 * 9` = 18, and finally `5 + 12 + 18` = 35. Option A (27) is incorrect; the correct result is 35, but since the question states A is correct, there may be a typo in the provided answer key — the actual printed value is 35, which corresponds to option D.
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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