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.
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str
Why it's wrong here
Adding an int and a float yields a float in Python, so the result is 3.0's type, not str. The option is tempting because the expression mixes numeric literals and beginners may expect text output, but numeric addition never produces a string.
- ✓
float
Why this is correct
Adding an int and a float triggers Python's implicit numeric promotion: the int operand is converted to float before addition, so the result always takes the wider type. Here 5 becomes 5.0, and 5.0 + 3.0 yields 8.0, a float, satisfying the expression's mixed-type operand constraint.
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int
Why it's wrong here
Python widens int to float when operands mix, so 5 + 3.0 produces 8.0, not an int; no truncation occurs. It tempts because int is the type of the first operand, and int would be correct only if both operands were integers, as in 5 + 3.
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complex
Why it's wrong here
Adding an int and a float yields a float in Python; complex requires an imaginary component (a j suffix), which neither operand supplies. It tempts because complex is a genuine numeric type, and it would be the result only if an operand were written as, say, 3j.
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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.