Assignment operators in Java - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of compound assignment with multiplication

What is the output of this Java code snippet?

Java

int a = 5;
a *= 3 + 2;
System.out.println(a);

A 10

B 15

C 25

D Syntax error

💡 Hint

Remember that compound assignments evaluate the right side first, then multiply.

The expression a *= 3 + 2 is equivalent to a = a * (3 + 2). So, a = 5 * 5 = 25.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Result of bitwise OR assignment

What will be printed after running this Java code?

Java

int x = 6; // binary 0110
x |= 3;    // binary 0011
System.out.println(x);

A 7

B 5

C 3

D 6

💡 Hint

Bitwise OR sets bits where either operand has a 1.

6 in binary is 0110, 3 is 0011. OR operation gives 0111 which is 7 in decimal.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Output of chained assignment with increment

What is the output of this Java code snippet?

Java

int a = 2;
int b = 3;
int c = a += b++;
System.out.println(a + "," + b + "," + c);

A 5,4,5

B 5,4,2

C 2,4,5

D 5,3,5

💡 Hint

Remember that b++ uses b's value before incrementing.

b++ uses b's current value (3) then increments b to 4. So a += 3 means a = 2 + 3 = 5. c is assigned this new a value (5). b is now 4.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Effect of right shift assignment operator

What will be printed after executing this Java code?

Java

int num = 32;
num >>= 3;
System.out.println(num);

A 2

B 4

C 16

D 8

💡 Hint

Right shift divides the number by 2 for each shift.

Right shifting 32 by 3 bits divides it by 2^3 = 8, so 32 / 8 = 4.

❓ Predict Output

expert

Value of variable after complex assignment

What is the value of variable result after running this Java code?

Java

int x = 10;
int y = 5;
int result = 0;
result += x > y ? x -= 3 : y += 3;
System.out.println(result);

A 8

B 10

C 5

D 7

💡 Hint

The ternary operator chooses which assignment to perform based on the condition.

Since x (10) > y (5), the true branch executes: x -= 3, so x becomes 7. Then result += 7, so result is 7.