Break and continue in MATLAB - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of break in a for loop

What is the output of this MATLAB code?

for i = 1:5
    if i == 3
        break;
    end
    disp(i)
end

MATLAB

for i = 1:5
    if i == 3
        break;
    end
    disp(i)
end

A

1
2
3

B

1
2

C

1
2
3
4
5

D

3
4
5

💡 Hint

The break statement stops the loop immediately when the condition is met.

The loop prints numbers starting from 1. When i equals 3, the break stops the loop before printing 3. So only 1 and 2 are printed.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of continue in a for loop

What is the output of this MATLAB code?

for i = 1:5
    if i == 3
        continue;
    end
    disp(i)
end

MATLAB

for i = 1:5
    if i == 3
        continue;
    end
    disp(i)
end

A

1
2
4
5

B

1
2
3
4

C 3

D

1
2
3
4
5

💡 Hint

The continue statement skips the current iteration when the condition is met.

When i equals 3, continue skips the disp(i) command, so 3 is not printed. All other numbers are printed.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Identify the error in break usage

What error does this MATLAB code produce?

if true
    break;
end

MATLAB

if true
    break;
end

A Logical error: infinite loop

B Runtime error: variable 'break' undefined

C Syntax error: 'break' not inside a loop

D No error, code runs fine

💡 Hint

Break can only be used inside loops in MATLAB.

The break statement must be inside a loop. Using it inside an if statement without a loop causes a syntax error.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Nested loops with break and continue

What is the output of this MATLAB code?

for i = 1:3
    for j = 1:3
        if j == 2
            break;
        end
        fprintf('[%%d %%d]\n',i,j)
    end
end

MATLAB

for i = 1:3
    for j = 1:3
        if j == 2
            break;
        end
        fprintf('[%d %d]\n',i,j)
    end
end

A

[1 1]
[1 2]
[2 1]
[3 1]

B

[1 1]
[1 2]
[2 1]
[2 2]
[3 1]
[3 2]

C

[1 1]
[1 2]
[1 3]
[2 1]
[2 2]
[2 3]
[3 1]
[3 2]
[3 3]

D

[1 1]
[2 1]
[3 1]

💡 Hint

The break stops the inner loop when j equals 2, so only j=1 is displayed for each i.

For each i, the inner loop runs j=1 and prints [i 1]. When j=2, break stops the inner loop. So only [1 1], [2 1], and [3 1] are printed.

❓ Predict Output

expert

Complex loop control with break and continue

What is the output of this MATLAB code?

count = 0;
for i = 1:5
    if mod(i,2) == 0
        continue;
    end
    count = count + 1;
    if count == 3
        break;
    end
    disp(i)
end

MATLAB

count = 0;
for i = 1:5
    if mod(i,2) == 0
        continue;
    end
    count = count + 1;
    if count == 3
        break;
    end
    disp(i)
end

A

1
3

B

1
3
5

C

1
3
5
7

D

2
4

💡 Hint

Count only increases for odd numbers. When count reaches 3, break executes before disp(i).

The loop skips even numbers. For odd i, count increases. When count reaches 3 (at i=5), break stops the loop before printing 5. So only 1 and 3 are printed.