Variable assignment in Python - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of chained assignment

What is the output of this code snippet?

Python

a = b = c = 5
print(a, b, c)

A 5 5

B 5

C 5 5 5

D SyntaxError

💡 Hint

Think about how Python assigns the same value to multiple variables in one line.

In Python, chained assignment assigns the same value to all variables. So a, b, and c all become 5.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output after multiple assignments

What will be the value of x after running this code?

Python

x = 10
y = x
x = 20
print(y)

A None

B 20

C NameError

D 10

💡 Hint

Remember that y gets the value of x at the time of assignment, not a reference.

When y = x is executed, y gets the value 10. Changing x later does not affect y.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Output of tuple unpacking assignment

What is the output of this code?

Python

a, b, c = 1, 2, 3
b, c = c, b
print(a, b, c)

A 1 2 3

B 1 3 2

C 3 2 1

D SyntaxError

💡 Hint

Look carefully at how tuple unpacking swaps values.

Initially a=1, b=2, c=3. Then b and c are swapped, so b=3 and c=2.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Output of augmented assignment with mutable object

What is the output of this code?

Python

lst = [1, 2]
lst2 = lst
lst += [3]
print(lst2)

A [1, 2, 3]

B [1, 2]

C TypeError

D None

💡 Hint

Remember that lst and lst2 point to the same list object.

lst and lst2 refer to the same list. lst += [3] modifies the list in place, so lst2 also shows the change.

❓ Predict Output

expert

Output of variable assignment with walrus operator

What is the output of this code snippet?

Python

if (n := 5) > 3:
    print(n * 2)
else:
    print(n)

A 10

B 5

C SyntaxError

D None

💡 Hint

The walrus operator assigns and returns the value in the same expression.

The walrus operator assigns 5 to n and checks if n > 3, which is true, so it prints 5*2 = 10.