PCEP Practice Question: Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators
What is the result of 17 % 5 in Python?
⚠ Common exam trap
Python Institute often tests the distinction between the modulo operator (%) and floor division (//), trapping candidates who confuse the remainder with the quotient.
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
✓
2
In Python, the % operator performs modulo division, returning the remainder after integer division. 17 divided by 5 equals 3 with a remainder of 2 (since 5 * 3 = 15, and 17 - 15 = 2), so 17 % 5 evaluates to 2.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
2
Why this is correct
The modulo operator returns the remainder after integer division, so 17 % 5 evaluates to 2 because 5 divides into 17 three times (15) with 2 left over. This satisfies the stem's requirement for the exact result of the expression, matching Python's behaviour for positive integers.
- ✗
4
Why it's wrong here
17 % 5 returns the remainder after dividing 17 by five, which is 2, not 4. The value 4 is tempting because it is the quotient of 17 divided by 5 rounded down, confusing modulo with integer floor division; modulo yields what is left over, so 5 × 3 = 15 leaves 2.
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3
Why it's wrong here
17 % 5 returns 2, the leftover after subtracting 15; 3 is the quotient, not the remainder. It is tempting because 3 is the integer result of 17 // 5, so confusing the modulo operator with floor division produces this value; the two operators differ in exactly what they return.
- ✗
1
Why it's wrong here
17 % 5 evaluates to 2, since 5 × 3 = 15 and 17 − 15 = 2; 1 is not the remainder. It is tempting because 1 is the remainder of 16 % 5, and off-by-one slips are common when mentally subtracting the nearest multiple below the dividend.
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