Unit 2 Cycle 2 Day 9: Iteration (while-loop tracing)

Unit 2, Selection & Iteration • Cycle 2
Day 9 Advanced Practice • Harder Difficulty
Focus: While Loop Tracing Hard Iteration (while-loop tracing)

Advanced Practice Question

Format: Iteration (while-loop tracing)

What is printed?
"apcs-keyword">int x = "apcs-number">20;
"apcs-keyword">int y = "apcs-number">0;

"apcs-keyword">while (x > "apcs-number">0)
{
    x -= "apcs-number">6;
    y++;
}

System.out.println(y);
Difficulty: Hard  |  Topic: Iteration (while-loop tracing)  |  Cycle: 2 (Advanced)
Why This Answer?

x goes 20 → 14 → 8 → 2 → -4. The loop ran 4 times, so y is 4.

Common Mistake
Watch Out!

Assuming the loop stops when x becomes 2 (it stops only after the next subtraction makes x ≤ 0).

AP Exam Strategy

Track x after each update; the condition is checked at the top each time.

Master This Topic

This Cycle 2 HARD question tests while loop tracing. Review Unit 2 concepts to build mastery of selection and iteration.

  • Understanding while loop tracing
  • Tracing code execution accurately
  • Avoiding common pitfalls
View Unit 2 Study Guide

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