Question

Consider the code block below. What is the value of amount when this method is called twice, the first time using cookieJar(7) and then using cookieJar(22)?
public static int cookieJar(int addCookies) {

int amount = 0;
amount += addCookies;
return amount;

}
A. 7
B. 15
C. 22
D. 29
E. An error occurs

Answer 1

Answer:

C. 22

Explanation:

Given that the argument is being passed by value, there is no memory to consider.  So cookieJar(7) returns 7 and cookieJar(22) returns 22.

If the argument parameter was passed by reference or pointer, then perhaps the value from cookieJar(7) would be considered with cookieJar(22).

Note, this code block really isn't doing anything other than returning the value passed into it.  The "amount" variable is immediately set to 0, and then the value passed in is added to amount (which is 0), and returns.  The following code could replace this function:

public static int cookieJar(int addCookies){

return addCookies;

}

The above code will return an equivalent output to the given code.

Notice, the function is not dependent on any previous call, so the value for each is unique to the call itself, i.e., cookieJar(22) returns 22 and cookieJar(7) returns 7.

So, C. 22 would be correct.