What will be the output of the following code snippet? x = 2 y = 1 x *= y + 1 print(x)

The correct answer is B. 4. Option B (4) is correct because x = y + 1 expands to x = x (y + 1). Python evaluates the entire right-hand side first - so y + 1 becomes 1 + 1 = 2, then x = 2 2 = 4. Why the distractors fail: C (2) tempts those who ignore the + 1 entirely, as if the statement were just x = y →…

Question

What will be the output of the following code snippet?
x = 2
y = 1
x *= y + 1
print(x)

Options

How the community answered

(55 responses)

A
13% (7)
B
78% (43)
C
5% (3)
D
4% (2)

Explanation

Option B (4) is correct because x *= y + 1 expands to x = x * (y + 1). Python evaluates the entire right-hand side first - so y + 1 becomes 1 + 1 = 2, then x = 2 * 2 = 4.

Why the distractors fail:

C (2) tempts those who ignore the + 1 entirely, as if the statement were just x *= y → 2 * 1 = 2.
D (3) catches those who misapply precedence left-to-right: (x * y) + 1 = (2 * 1) + 1 = 3 - but that's not how *= works; the whole right-hand expression is computed before multiplying.
A (1) has no arithmetic path to reach it; it likely traps those who confuse assignment with comparison or misread the variables.

Memory tip: Think of x *= expr as x = x * (expr) - the right side always gets wrapped in invisible parentheses and evaluated completely before the multiplication happens, just like any compound assignment operator.

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