Simple Pointer Math

Understanding pointer arithmetic and operator precedence in C++

This is a medium-difficulty C++ question that tests whether you understand how pointer arithmetic and operator precedence interact—a common source of confusion in low-level systems code. It's the kind of question used to verify that a candidate can reason precisely about memory operations, not just write code that happens to work.

The core skill being probed is your mental model of postfix operators, dereferencing, and how the C++ compiler parses compound expressions. Getting this right requires knowing the formal precedence rules and being able to trace through what actually happens at runtime, step by step. Firms hiring for systems programming, high-frequency trading, or embedded roles often include questions like this to filter for candidates with solid language foundations.

• Operator precedence and associativity in C++
• Postfix vs. prefix operators
• Pointer dereferencing and increments
• Order of evaluation and side effects