Question:

Consider the following code snippet:

public static void main(String[] args) {
    int x = 5;
    int y = 10;
    int z;
    
    if (x > y) {
        z = x + y;
    }
    else if (x < y) {
        z = x - y;
    }
    else {
        z = x * y;
    }
    
    switch (z) {
        case 15:
            System.out.println("Case 15");
            break;
        case -5:
            System.out.println("Case -5");
            break;
        default:
            System.out.println("Default case");
    }
}

What will be the output of the above code?

A) "Case 15" will be printed.

B) "Case -5" will be printed.

C) "Default case" will be printed.

D) The code will not compile due to an error.

Answer:

The output of the above code will be "Case -5" printed.

Explanation:

1. The program initializes two variables x and y with the values 5 and 10, respectively.
2. The variable z is declared but not assigned any value.
3. The if statement is evaluated to check if x is greater than y. Since 5 is not greater than 10, the condition is false, so the program proceeds to the else if statement.
4. The else if statement is evaluated to check if x is less than y. Since 5 is less than 10, the condition is true, and the code block inside the else if statement is executed.
5. Inside the else if block, the value of z is assigned as the subtraction of x and y, which results in -5.
6. After the if-else block, the switch statement is evaluated on the value of z.
7. The switch statement matches the value of z with the cases defined. Since z is -5, it matches with the case -5 and executes the corresponding code block.
8. The statement System.out.println("Case -5"); prints "Case -5" to the console.
9. The break statement is encountered, which exits the switch block and continues execution after the switch statement.
10. The program terminates, and "Case -5" is the final output.

Therefore, Option B) "Case -5" will be printed is the correct answer.