AP CSA Unit 1.7: Math Class Methods Practice
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Unit 1, Section 1.7
Day 7 Practice • January 13, 2026
🎯 Focus: Math Class Methods
Practice Question
Consider the following code segment:
int a = -7;
int b = 3;
int result = Math.abs(a) + Math.min(a, b);
System.out.println(result);What is printed as a result of executing this code segment?
What This Tests: Section 1.7 covers the Math class. This question tests Math.abs() (absolute value) and Math.min() (minimum of two values). These static methods are essential tools on the AP exam.
Key Concept: Math Class Methods
Math.abs(-7) → 7 // Absolute value (removes negative)
Math.abs(7) → 7 // Already positive
Math.min(-7, 3) → -7 // Returns smaller value
Math.max(-7, 3) → 3 // Returns larger value
Math.pow(2, 3) → 8.0 // 2³ = 8 (returns double)
Math.sqrt(16) → 4.0 // Square root (returns double)Step-by-Step Trace
| Expression | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Math.abs(a) | Math.abs(-7) | 7 |
| Math.min(a, b) | Math.min(-7, 3) | -7 |
| result | 7 + (-7) | 0 |
Output: 0
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Answer C (10)
This comes from thinking Math.min returns the absolute minimum (7 + 3 = 10). But Math.min(-7, 3) returns -7 because -7 < 3. The minimum is the smallest value, including negatives!
Mistake: Answer B (4)
This might come from |−7| − 3 = 7 − 3 = 4. But we're adding Math.min, not subtracting b.
Math Class Reference
AP Exam Math Methods
Math.abs(x) - Returns |x| (absolute value)
Math.pow(base, exp) - Returns base^exp (as double)
Math.sqrt(x) - Returns √x (as double)
Math.min(a, b) - Returns smaller of a and b
Math.max(a, b) - Returns larger of a and b
Math.random() - Returns random double [0.0, 1.0)
Related Topics
- Section 1.3: Expressions
- Section 3.7: Static Methods (Math methods are static)
- Section 2.9: Using Math.random() for random integers
Difficulty: Medium • Time: 2-3 minutes • AP Skill: 2.C - Call methods
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