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.
What is the output of the following code? ```python x = 10 y = 3
print(x // y * y + x % y)
```
9
Why wrong: Incorrect. This would be (x // y) * y only.
10.0
Why wrong: Incorrect. The result is an integer.
10
Correct. The expression evaluates to 10.
9.0
Why wrong: Incorrect. The result is an integer, not 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
10
The expression `x // y * y + x % y` is evaluated using integer arithmetic. First, `x // y` is floor division: 10 // 3 = 3. Then `3 * y` = 3 * 3 = 9. Then `x % y` = 10 % 3 = 1. Finally, 9 + 1 = 10, which is an integer. Option C is correct because the result is 10 (type int).
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.
9
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This would be (x // y) * y only.
10.0
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The result is an integer.
10
Why this is correct
Correct. The expression evaluates to 10.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
9.0
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The result is an integer, not float.
Common exam traps
Python Institute often tests the order of operations and the distinction between integer and floating-point division, leading candidates to mistakenly compute `10 / 3` (≈3.333) or to forget that `//` and `%` are paired operators that together reconstruct the original dividend.
Detailed technical explanation
In Python, `//` is floor division, which for positive integers behaves like truncation toward zero. The modulo operator `%` returns the remainder such that `x == (x // y) * y + (x % y)` always holds. This identity is fundamental in modular arithmetic and is used in algorithms like circular buffer indexing or wrapping values within a range.
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: 10 — The expression `x // y * y + x % y` is evaluated using integer arithmetic. First, `x // y` is floor division: 10 // 3 = 3. Then `3 * y` = 3 * 3 = 9. Then `x % y` = 10 % 3 = 1. Finally, 9 + 1 = 10, which is an integer. Option C is correct because the result is 10 (type int).
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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