Accumulating loop iterations

What this C++ loop behavior question tests

This is an easy C++ code-reading question that checks your understanding of how loops accumulate state and how variable scope works in procedural code. It appears frequently in screening rounds because it separates candidates who can trace execution step-by-step from those who skip over details.

To solve problems like this, you read the code line-by-line, track how variables change with each iteration, and predict the final output. The question rewards attention to initialization, loop conditions, and the order of operations—skills that matter for both correctness in interviews and for catching bugs in real trading systems.

• Loop iteration and termination conditions
• Variable initialization and mutation
• Output and side effects