Operator precedence in MATLAB - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the output of this MATLAB code?

Consider the following MATLAB code snippet. What value does variable result hold after execution?

MATLAB

result = 3 + 4 * 2;

A 11

B 14

C 10

D 7

💡 Hint

Remember that multiplication (*) has higher precedence than addition (+).

In MATLAB, multiplication (*) is done before addition (+). So, 4 * 2 = 8, then 3 + 8 = 11.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the output of this MATLAB expression with parentheses?

What value does result hold after running this code?

MATLAB

result = (3 + 4) * 2;

A 7

B 11

C 10

D 14

💡 Hint

Parentheses change the order of operations.

Parentheses force MATLAB to add 3 + 4 first, which is 7, then multiply by 2, resulting in 14.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

What is the output of this MATLAB logical expression?

What is the value of result after running this code?

MATLAB

result = 5 > 3 & 2 < 1 | 4 == 4;

A 1

B 0

C [1 0]

D Error

💡 Hint

Logical AND (&) has higher precedence than OR (|).

First, 5 > 3 is true (1), 2 < 1 is false (0), so 1 & 0 = 0. Then 4 == 4 is true (1). Finally, 0 | 1 = 1.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

What is the output of this MATLAB expression with power and negation?

What value does result hold after running this code?

MATLAB

result = -2^2;

A -2

B 4

C -4

D Error

💡 Hint

Exponentiation (^) has higher precedence than unary minus (-).

MATLAB calculates 2^2 first, which is 4, then applies the unary minus, resulting in -4.

❓ Predict Output

expert

What is the output of this complex MATLAB expression?

What value does result hold after running this code?

MATLAB

result = 10 / 2 * 3 ^ 2 - 4 + 1;

A 47

B 42

C 45

D 39

💡 Hint

Remember the order: power (^), then multiplication/division (*,/), then addition/subtraction (+,-).

Operator precedence in MATLAB: ^ > * / > + -
Same precedence operators are evaluated left to right.

Step-by-step:
1. 3 ^ 2 = 9
2. 10 / 2 * 9 = (10 / 2) * 9 = 5 * 9 = 45
3. 45 - 4 + 1 = (45 - 4) + 1 = 41 + 1 = 42