Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: The program will print the output 64 11.
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This problem checks understanding of the conditional (ternary) operator, pointer indirection, pre/post increment semantics, and references in C++. The code also includes a function that normalizes a nonzero number to 1 via m /= m
.
Given Data / Assumptions:
<iostream.h>
) but otherwise standard semantics.c = 9
, d
points to c
.z
bound to e
.
Concept / Approach:
Evaluate the ternary condition carefully, track post-decrement and compound assignments, then propagate values through the function and the reference. Integer division and sequence points matter for the final value of e
.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Condition: c-- % 3
. The value used is 9 % 3 = 0
, then c
becomes 8. 2) False branch executes: (*d *= *d)
. Since d
points to c
(currently 8), c
becomes 64. The argument to the function is 64. 3) In CuriousTabFunction
: m *= m
makes m = 4096
; m /= m
makes m = 1
; returns 10 * 1 = 10
. 4) Back in main
: e = 10
. Then, with z
referencing e
, z = z + e / 10
makes e = 10 + 1 = 11
(integer division). 5) Final print: c
is 64; e
is 11.
Verification / Alternative check:
Replace the function with a direct expression returning 10 to confirm that only the normalization to 1 affects the result, not the squared size.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Compile error: Code is valid in classic compilers. 64 9 / 64 10: Miss the final reference update by e/10
. 8 11: Ignores that c
was squared to 64.
Common Pitfalls:
Forgetting that c--
uses 9 in the expression; misunderstanding reference aliasing; overlooking integer division.
Final Answer:
64 11
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