& and &&

What this C++ bitwise-operator question tests

This is a straightforward question about operator precedence and semantics in C++. It appears simple on the surface but requires precise knowledge of how the language distinguishes between bitwise operations and logical operations, and how each behaves in a given context.

Questions like this are common in quant interviews because they separate candidates who have read the standard carefully from those who rely on intuition. A correct answer requires you to trace through operator precedence, understand short-circuit evaluation where it applies, and predict the exact output—or recognize that none occurs.

• Bitwise vs. logical operators in C++
• Operator precedence and associativity
• Short-circuit evaluation semantics
• Type coercion in expressions