PCEP Practice Question: Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators
What is the type of the result of the expression 5 + 3.0?
⚠ Common exam trap
The PCEP exam often tests the misconception that adding an integer and a float returns an integer, or that Python truncates the result, when in fact Python always promotes to the more precise type (float).
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
✓
float
In Python, when an integer (int) and a float are combined using the addition operator, the result is implicitly converted to a float to preserve precision. Since 3.0 is a float, 5 + 3.0 yields 8.0, which is of type float.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
str
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The result is numeric, not string.
- ✓
float
Why this is correct
Correct. 5 + 3.0 = 8.0, a float.
- ✗
int
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Mixing int and float yields a float.
- ✗
complex
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. No imaginary part.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This PCEP question is part of Courseiva's 498-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.