One after the other

What this C++ code-tracing question tests

This is a medium-difficulty code-tracing question that asks you to carefully read and predict the output of a C++ snippet. It's the kind of problem quant firms use to verify that candidates have solid command of language semantics—not just ability to write code, but to reason precisely about what existing code does.

Success requires understanding how the specific language features in the snippet interact: scope rules, operator precedence, type conversions, and control flow. Interviewers are checking whether you can trace execution methodically, catch subtle gotchas, and explain your reasoning clearly rather than guess.

• Variable scope and shadowing
• Operator precedence and associativity
• Type coercion and implicit conversions
• Control-flow execution order