AP CSA Unit 1.3: Operator Precedence and Expressions Practice
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Unit 1, Section 1.3
Day 3 Practice • January 9, 2026
🎯 Focus: Expressions and Operator Precedence
Practice Question
Consider the following code segment:
int a = 3;
int b = 4;
int c = 5;
int result = a + b * c - a;
System.out.println(result);What is printed as a result of executing this code segment?
What This Tests: Section 1.3 covers expressions and output. This question tests operator precedence—the order in which Java evaluates mathematical operations. Multiplication and division happen before addition and subtraction.
Key Concept: Operator Precedence
Java follows standard mathematical order of operations:
// Order of operations (highest to lowest):
// 1. Parentheses ()
// 2. Multiplication *, Division /, Modulus %
// 3. Addition +, Subtraction -
// Same level: left to rightStep-by-Step Trace
| Step | Expression | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 + 4 * 5 - 3 | Original expression |
| 2 | 3 + 20 - 3 | Multiply first: 4 * 5 = 20 |
| 3 | 23 - 3 | Add: 3 + 20 = 23 |
| 4 | 20 | Subtract: 23 - 3 = 20 |
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Answer A (32)
This comes from evaluating left to right without precedence: (3+4)*5-3 = 7*5-3 = 32. But multiplication happens before addition!
Mistake: Answer E (35)
This is (3+4)*5 = 35, forgetting the -3 at the end.
Practice Technique
The Parentheses Method
Add parentheses around higher-precedence operations first:
a + b * c - a → a + (b * c) - a → 3 + (20) - 3
Related Topics
- Section 1.2: Variables and Data Types
- Section 1.4: Assignment Statements
- Section 1.5: Casting and Range
Difficulty: Medium • Time: 2-3 minutes • AP Skill: 2.A - Apply operators
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