Underlying numeric values in C Sharp (C#) - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the output of this enum underlying value code?

Consider the following C# code that defines an enum and prints its underlying numeric value. What will be printed?

C Sharp (C#)

enum Color { Red = 1, Green = 2, Blue = 4 }

class Program {
    static void Main() {
        Color c = Color.Blue;
        Console.WriteLine((int)c);
    }
}

A 3

B 0

C 2

D 4

💡 Hint

Look at the value assigned to Blue in the enum.

The enum Color assigns Blue the value 4 explicitly. Casting it to int prints 4.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the output when casting enum with default underlying values?

Given this enum and code, what number is printed?

C Sharp (C#)

enum Status { Pending, Approved, Rejected }

class Program {
    static void Main() {
        Status s = Status.Approved;
        Console.WriteLine((int)s);
    }
}

A 2

B 0

C 1

D 3

💡 Hint

Enums start numbering from 0 by default unless specified.

Pending is 0, Approved is 1, Rejected is 2. So Approved prints 1.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

What is the output of this enum with mixed explicit and implicit values?

Analyze this code and determine the output printed.

C Sharp (C#)

enum Level { Low = 3, Medium, High = 10, Critical }

class Program {
    static void Main() {
        Console.WriteLine((int)Level.Medium);
        Console.WriteLine((int)Level.Critical);
    }
}

A 4 and 11

B 3 and 10

C 4 and 10

D 3 and 11

💡 Hint

Implicit values increment from the previous value.

Medium is one more than Low (3), so 4. Critical is one more than High (10), so 11.

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

Which underlying type is used by default for enums in C#?

In C#, if you do not specify an underlying type for an enum, which numeric type does it use by default?

A short

B int

C byte

D long

💡 Hint

Think about the most common integer type in C#.

By default, enums use int as their underlying type unless specified otherwise.

❓ Predict Output

expert

What is the output of this code using Flags attribute and bitwise operations?

Consider this enum with the [Flags] attribute and the code below. What will be printed?

C Sharp (C#)

[Flags]
enum Permissions {
    None = 0,
    Read = 1,
    Write = 2,
    Execute = 4
}

class Program {
    static void Main() {
        Permissions p = Permissions.Read | Permissions.Write;
        Console.WriteLine((int)p);
    }
}

A 3

B 1

C 2

D 4

💡 Hint

Bitwise OR combines the numeric values.

Read is 1, Write is 2. OR operation 1 | 2 = 3.