Numeric types (double, single, integer) in MATLAB - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of mixed numeric type operations

What is the output of this MATLAB code?

a = single(5.5); b = int32(2); c = a + b; disp(class(c)); disp(c);

MATLAB

a = single(5.5);
b = int32(2);
c = a + b;
disp(class(c));
disp(c);

A

int32
7

B

double
7.5

C

single
7.5

D

single
7

💡 Hint

Remember MATLAB converts integer types to single or double when mixed with floating types.

When adding a single and an int32, MATLAB converts the int32 to single before addition. The result is single type with value 7.5.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Integer division result type

What is the output of this MATLAB code?

x = int16(7); y = int16(2); z = x / y; disp(class(z)); disp(z);

MATLAB

x = int16(7);
y = int16(2);
z = x / y;
disp(class(z));
disp(z);

A

int32
3

B

double
3.5

C

int16
3

D

single
3.5

💡 Hint

Division of integer types returns double in MATLAB.

In MATLAB, dividing two integer types results in a double type value with floating point division.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Identify the error in numeric type conversion

What error does this MATLAB code produce?

a = int8(130); disp(a);

MATLAB

a = int8(130); disp(a);

A No output, infinite loop

B Error: Value exceeds int8 range

C Warning: Data truncated

D No error, displays -126

💡 Hint

int8 can only store values from -128 to 127.

Assigning 130 to int8 wraps around due to overflow, resulting in -126 without error.

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

Memory size of numeric types

Which numeric type uses the least memory in MATLAB?

A int8

B double

C single

D int32

💡 Hint

Check the number of bytes each type uses.

int8 uses 1 byte, single uses 4 bytes, int32 uses 4 bytes, double uses 8 bytes.

❓ Predict Output

expert

Result of mixed numeric array operations

What is the output of this MATLAB code?

A = single([1.5, 2.5]); B = int16([2, 3]); C = A .* B; disp(class(C)); disp(C);

MATLAB

A = single([1.5, 2.5]);
B = int16([2, 3]);
C = A .* B;
disp(class(C));
disp(C);

A

single
3.0 7.5

B

double
3.0 7.5

C

int16
3 7

D

single
3 7

💡 Hint

Element-wise multiplication with mixed types converts integers to single.

int16 array is converted to single before multiplication, result is single array with values 3.0 and 7.5.