GATE CSE 2008 | Question: 18

Question

Which combination of the integer variables $x, y,$ and $z$ makes the variable $a$ get the value $4$ in the following expression?

$$a=(x > y)?((x > z) ?x:z): ((y > z) ?y:z)$$

• A. $x=3, y=4, z=2$
• B. $x=6, y=5, z=3$
• C. $x=6, y=3, z=5$
• D. $x=5, y=4, z=5$

Comments

Expression includes only comparison operator $>$, a will take value from x,y,z. That's why option B) and C) can be eliminated.

Check for option A) and D).... option A) satisfy

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@Ahwan link is not working.

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Option A: 4

Option B: 6

Option C: 6

Option D: 5

Answer 1

Using option (A) : $x=3, y=4, z=2$

$a=(3>4)?$ No

therefore don't evaluate the first part and check second part $((y>z)?y:z)$

$(4>2)?$ Yes

$a=$ value of $y =4$

Answer is (A) $x=3, y=4, z=2$

Comments

Yes , correct @sachin

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convert to if-else

if(x>y)

{ if(x>z) a=x;

   else a=z;

}

else{

 if(y>z) a=y;

  else a=z;

}

option:- 

x	y	z	a
3	4	2	4
6	5	3	6
6	3	5	6
5	4	5	5

 

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thanks

Answer 2

If we look at the options carefully,

Only Y has the value 4  , That means we will only go for the expression that results Y (i.e 3^rd one)

To execute expression-3, expression-1 has to be false.

For this x<y  , so option A will be true(i.e 3<4)

Answer 3

The given expression actually finds the max. of 3 integers.
Therefore, the correct option is the one with 4 as the max value.
Therefore, correct opt: (A)