Given: System.out.println("5 + 2 = " + 3 + 4); System.out.println("5 + 2 = " + (3 + 4)); What is the result?

The correct answer is D. 5 + 2 = 34 5 + 2 = 7. Option D is correct because Java evaluates + left-to-right: in line 1, "5 + 2 = " + 3 produces the string "5 + 2 = 3", and then concatenating 4 appends it as a character, yielding "5 + 2 = 34". In line 2, the parentheses force 3 + 4 to be evaluated as arithmetic first (result…

Using Operators and Decision Constructs

Question

Given:
System.out.println("5 + 2 = " + 3 + 4);
System.out.println("5 + 2 = " + (3 + 4));
What is the result?

Options

A5 + 2 = 34 5 + 2 = 34
B5 + 2 = 3 + 4 5 + 2 = 7
C7 = 7 7 + 7
D5 + 2 = 34 5 + 2 = 7

How the community answered

(31 responses)

B
3% (1)
C
3% (1)
D
94% (29)

Explanation

Option D is correct because Java evaluates + left-to-right: in line 1, "5 + 2 = " + 3 produces the string "5 + 2 = 3", and then concatenating 4 appends it as a character, yielding "5 + 2 = 34". In line 2, the parentheses force 3 + 4 to be evaluated as arithmetic first (result: 7), which is then concatenated to the string, yielding "5 + 2 = 7".

Why the distractors fail:

A is wrong because the second line does produce 7, not 34 - parentheses matter.
B is wrong because "5 + 2 = " + 3 + 4 doesn't print the literal text 3 + 4; it concatenates the numbers individually as strings.
C is entirely fabricated output that matches neither expression.

Memory tip: Think of a String + chain as a "contamination" rule - once a String appears on the left side of +, every subsequent + to the right is concatenation, not math. Parentheses are your escape hatch to force arithmetic before the string takes over.

Topics

#string concatenation#operator precedence#type coercion#left-to-right evaluation

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