For loop in PowerShell - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What is the output of this PowerShell for loop?

Consider the following PowerShell script:

for ($i = 1; $i -le 3; $i++) { Write-Output $i }

What will be the output when this script runs?

PowerShell

for ($i = 1; $i -le 3; $i++) { Write-Output $i }

A

3
2
1

B

0
1
2
3

C 1 2 3

D

1
2
3

💡 Hint

Remember the loop starts at 1 and runs while $i is less than or equal to 3.

The loop starts at 1 and increments by 1 until it reaches 3, outputting each number on its own line.

📝 Syntax

intermediate

Which option contains a syntax error in the PowerShell for loop?

Identify the option that will cause a syntax error when running the PowerShell for loop.

A for ($i=0; $i -lt 5; $i++) { Write-Output $i }

B for $i = 0; $i -lt 5; $i++ { Write-Output $i }

C for ($i = 0; $i -lt 5; $i++) { Write-Output $i }

D for ($i=0; $i -le 4; $i++) { Write-Output $i }

💡 Hint

Check the syntax of the for loop header carefully.

Option B is missing parentheses around the loop control statement, which is required in PowerShell.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this PowerShell for loop not output anything?

Look at this script:

for ($i = 5; $i -lt 3; $i++) { Write-Output $i }

Why does it produce no output?

PowerShell

for ($i = 5; $i -lt 3; $i++) { Write-Output $i }

A Because the loop condition is false at the start, so the loop body never runs.

B Because the loop variable $i is not initialized.

C Because Write-Output is not the correct command to print in PowerShell.

D Because $i is incremented incorrectly causing an infinite loop.

💡 Hint

Check the initial value and the loop condition carefully.

The loop starts with $i = 5, but the condition $i -lt 3 (less than 3) is false, so the loop never runs.

🚀 Application

advanced

How many times will this PowerShell for loop run?

Given this script:

for ($i = 10; $i -ge 5; $i--) { Write-Output $i }

How many times does the loop execute?

PowerShell

for ($i = 10; $i -ge 5; $i--) { Write-Output $i }

A 6

B 5

C 4

D 7

💡 Hint

Count from 10 down to 5 inclusive.

The loop runs for $i = 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 which is 6 times.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

What is the value of $sum after this PowerShell for loop?

Consider this script:

$sum = 0
for ($i = 1; $i -le 4; $i++) { $sum += $i }

What is the value of $sum after the loop finishes?

PowerShell

$sum = 0
for ($i = 1; $i -le 4; $i++) { $sum += $i }

A 4

B 9

C 10

D 0

💡 Hint

Add the numbers 1 through 4 together.

The loop adds 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10 to $sum.