Ternary conditional operator in C Sharp (C#) - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of nested ternary operator

What is the output of this C# code snippet?

C Sharp (C#)

int x = 5;
int y = 10;
string result = x > y ? "x is greater" : x == y ? "x equals y" : "x is smaller";
Console.WriteLine(result);

A x is greater

B x equals y

C x is smaller

D Compilation error

💡 Hint

Remember how nested ternary operators evaluate conditions from left to right.

Since x (5) is less than y (10), the first condition (x > y) is false, so it evaluates the second ternary: x == y? which is also false, so it returns "x is smaller".

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Ternary operator with boolean expressions

What will this code print?

C Sharp (C#)

bool isSunny = false;
bool haveUmbrella = true;
string message = isSunny ? "Go outside" : haveUmbrella ? "Take umbrella" : "Stay inside";
Console.WriteLine(message);

A Go outside

B Take umbrella

C Stay inside

D Runtime error

💡 Hint

Check the value of isSunny and then haveUmbrella.

isSunny is false, so it evaluates the second ternary. haveUmbrella is true, so it returns "Take umbrella".

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Ternary operator with different data types

What is the output of this code?

C Sharp (C#)

var value = 7;
var output = value % 2 == 0 ? "Even" : value > 5 ? 100 : 50;
Console.WriteLine(output);

A Compilation error

B Even

C 50

D 100

💡 Hint

Check the types of the values returned by the ternary operator.

The ternary operator must return the same type for both outcomes. Here, one branch returns a string and the other returns an int, causing a compilation error.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Ternary operator with side effects

What will be printed by this code?

C Sharp (C#)

int a = 3;
int b = 4;
int result = a > b ? a++ : ++b;
Console.WriteLine($"result = {result}, a = {a}, b = {b}");

A result = 5, a = 3, b = 5

B result = 3, a = 4, b = 4

C result = 3, a = 3, b = 5

D result = 4, a = 3, b = 4

💡 Hint

Remember how post-increment and pre-increment operators work.

Since a (3) is not greater than b (4), the false branch ++b is executed. ++b increments b to 5 and returns the new value 5, which is assigned to result. a remains 3. Output: result = 5, a = 3, b = 5.

❓ Predict Output

expert

Complex nested ternary with method calls

What is the output of this code?

C Sharp (C#)

static string Check(int n) => n % 2 == 0 ? "Even" : n % 3 == 0 ? "Divisible by 3" : "Other";

Console.WriteLine(Check(9));

A Even

B Compilation error

C Other

D Divisible by 3

💡 Hint

Check the order of conditions in the nested ternary.

9 is not even, so first condition is false. Then it checks if 9 is divisible by 3, which is true, so it returns "Divisible by 3".