Scripting-and-Programming-Foundations WGU Scripting and Programming Foundations Exam Questions and Answers

 A student’s grade point average (GPA) is a numerical representation that typically includes a decimal to account for the precision of the average (e.g., 3.75). Therefore, it should be declared as a floating-point data type to accommodate the decimal part. Since a student’s GPA can change over time with the addition of new grades, it should be declared as a variable rather than a constant.

A sequence diagram is a type of interaction diagram used in software engineering to model the interactions between objects within a system over time. It shows how objects interact with each other and the order in which those interactions occur. The sequence diagram is organized along two dimensions: horizontally to represent the objects involved, and vertically to represent the time sequence of interactions. This allows the diagram to depict not only the interactions but also the sequence of events as they occur over time12345.

Option B is incorrect because a sequence diagram does indeed specify an order of events. Option C is incorrect as sequence diagrams do not show static elements of software but rather the dynamic interactions. Option D is also incorrect because a sequence diagram does show all interactions along with their order.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The function K(s1, s2) outputs s1, followed by " and ", followed by s2. When called with K("sign", "horse"), it outputs "sign and horse". Calling it twice repeats this output. According to foundational programming principles, multiple function calls append their outputs in sequence unless specified otherwise (e.g., no newlines assumed unless explicit).

Single Call: K("sign", "horse") outputs "sign and horse".

Two Calls: The output is "sign and horse" followed by "sign and horse", resulting in "sign and horse sign and horse".

Option A: "sign and horse and sign and horse." This is incorrect. This suggests an extra "and" between the two outputs, which is not produced by the function.

Option B: "sign and horsesign and horse." This is incorrect. This implies no space between the two outputs, but typical output mechanisms (e.g., print in Python) may add spaces or newlines, and the space is explicit in the correct option.

Option C: "sign and horse." This is incorrect. This is the output of one call, not two.

Option D: "sign and horse." This is incorrect. Identical to C, it represents one call.

Option E: "sign and horse sign and horse." This is correct. It accurately represents the concatenated output of two calls: "sign and horse" twice.

Certiport Scripting and Programming Foundations Study Guide (Section on Functions and Output).

Python Documentation: “Print Function” (https://docs.python.org/3/library/functions.html#print).

W3Schools: “C Output” (https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_output.php).

A compiled language is one where the source code is translated into machine code, which is a set of instructions that the computer’s processor can execute directly. This translation is done by a program called a compiler. Once the source code is compiled into an executable file, it can be run on the target machine without the need for the original source code or the compiler. This process differs from interpreted languages, where the code is executed one statement at a time by another program called an interpreter, and there is no intermediate executable file created.

Option A describes an interpreted language, not a compiled one. Option B refers to type safety, which is a feature of some programming languages but is not specific to compiled languages. Option C describes a script or an interpreted language, which can be executed immediately by an interpreter without compilation.

This is the most likely event during the analysis phase. It involves:

Understanding the requirements: What specific capabilities are needed?

Breaking down the problem: How can those capabilities be achieved within the existing codebase, potentially by leveraging functions to organize and reuse code.

Technical Design: Starting to think about the structure of the solution without diving fully into implementation.

 The type of language that requires variables to be declared ahead of time and prohibits their types from changing while the program runs is known as a statically typed language. In statically typed languages, the type of a variable is determined at compile-time and cannot be changed during runtime. This means that the compiler must know the exact data types of all variables used in the program, and these types must remain consistent throughout the execution of the program. Statically typed languages require developers to declare the type of each variable before using it, which can help catch type errors during the compilation process, potentially preventing runtime errors and bugs.

A sequence diagram is a type of interaction diagram that details how operations are carried out within a system. It is used to model the interactions between objects or components in a sequence that reflects the order of operations, particularly focusing on the messages exchanged between these objects over time. The vertical axis of a sequence diagram represents time, and the horizontal axis represents the objects involved in the interaction. The purpose of a sequence diagram is to illustrate the sequence of messages or events that occur between these objects, typically in the context of a specific use case or scenario within the software system1234.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The question is incomplete, as the definition of the Greeting() function is not provided. However, based on standard programming problem patterns and the output options, we assume Greeting() is a function that outputs "Hello!" each time it is called. According to foundational programming principles, calling a function multiple times repeats its output unless state changes occur.

Assumption: Greeting() outputs "Hello!" to the console (e.g., in Python: def Greeting(): print("Hello!")).

Calling Greeting() twice outputs "Hello!" twice, concatenated in the output stream as "Hello!Hello!" (assuming no extra newlines or spaces, as is typical in such problems).

Option A: "Hello!." This is incorrect. A single "Hello!" would result from one call, not two.

Option B: "Hello!!." This is incorrect. This suggests a modified output (e.g., adding an extra !), which is not implied by the function’s behavior.

Option C: "Hello!Hello!." This is correct. Two calls to Greeting() produce "Hello!" twice, appearing as "Hello!Hello!" in the output.

Certiport Scripting and Programming Foundations Study Guide (Section on Function Calls and Output).

Python Documentation: “Print Function” (https://docs.python.org/3/library/functions.html#print).

W3Schools: “C Output” (https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_output.php).

 The algorithm’s success depends on the correct sequence of steps. The steps should first declare the variable Diff before attempting to use it in calculations. If the declaration of Diff (step 4) is not done prior to its use (step 1), the algorithm will attempt to use an undeclared variable, which will result in an error. Therefore, switching steps 1 and 4 ensures that Diff is declared before any operations are performed on it.

C, C++, and Java are all considered compiled languages. This means that the code written in these languages is not executed directly by the hardware but must first be translated into machine code by a compiler.

C is a general-purpose programming language that is compiled to generate machine code which can be executed directly by the computer’s CPU1.

C++ is an extension of C that includes object-oriented features. It is also a compiled language, where the source code is converted into machine code that can be executed by the CPU2.

Java is a bit unique because it is compiled into bytecode, which is then run on a virtual machine (JVM) rather than directly by the CPU. However, it is still considered a compiled language because the source code is compiled before it is executed2.

A language characterized by a series of method calls is typically referred to as a functional language. In functional programming, computation is treated as the evaluation of mathematical functions and avoids changing-state and mutable data. It is a declarative programming paradigm, which means programming is done with expressions or declarations instead of statements. In functional languages, functions are first-class citizens, meaning they can be passed as arguments to other functions, returned as values from other functions, and assigned to variables.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The Waterfall methodology is a linear, sequential approach with phases including requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance. According to foundational programming principles (e.g., Certiport Scripting and Programming Foundations Study Guide), the design phase is where the specifics of how to build the program are defined, including system architecture, modules, and technical specifications.

Waterfall Phases Overview:

Analysis: Defines what the program should do (requirements, e.g., user needs or system goals).

Design: Defines how the program will be built (e.g., architecture, data models, function specifications).

Implementation: Writes the code based on the design.

Testing: Verifies the program meets requirements.

Option A: "Design." This is correct. The design phase produces detailed plans, such as system architecture, database schemas, and function or object specifications, outlining how the program will be constructed. For example, it might specify a function like calculateScore() or a class like User.

Option B: "Testing." This is incorrect. Testing verifies the implemented program, not the planning of how to build it.

Option C: "Analysis." This is incorrect. Analysis focuses on gathering requirements (what the program should do), not technical specifics of implementation.

Option D: "Implementation." This is incorrect. Implementation involves coding the program based on the design’s specifics, not defining them.

Certiport Scripting and Programming Foundations Study Guide (Section on Waterfall Methodology).

Sommerville, I., Software Engineering, 10th Edition (Chapter 2: Waterfall Model).

Pressman, R.S., Software Engineering: A Practitioner’s Approach, 8th Edition (Waterfall Design Phase).

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Object-oriented languages are defined by their use of objects, which combine data (attributes) and operations (methods) to model real-world entities. According to foundational programming principles, this encapsulation of data and behavior is a hallmark of OOP languages.

Option A: "Supports creating programs as items that have data plus operations." This is correct. OOP languages (e.g., C++, Java, Python) organize programs into objects, where each object contains data (fields or attributes) and operations (methods). For example, a Car object might have data like speed and methods like accelerate().

Option B: "Supports creating programs as a set of functions." This is incorrect. This describes functional or procedural languages (e.g., C, Haskell), where programs are structured as functions or procedures, not objects.

Option C: "Requires a compiler to translate to machine code." This is incorrect. Not all OOP languages require compilation to machine code (e.g., Python is interpreted). Compilation is a characteristic of some languages (e.g., C++, Java), not a defining feature of OOP.

Option D: "Can be run on any machine that has an interpreter." This is incorrect. While some OOP languages (e.g., Python) are interpreted, others (e.g., C++) are compiled. Interpretability is not specific to OOP.

Certiport Scripting and Programming Foundations Study Guide (Section on Object-Oriented Programming).

Java Documentation: “Defining Classes” (https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/javaOO/).

W3Schools: “Python Classes and Objects” (https://www.w3schools.com/python/python_classes.asp).

The process described involves two main phases: first, the developer is designing the application by creating a list of all objects and functions (the design phase), and then they are writing the code for each object (the implementation phase). This aligns with option C, Design and Implementation. Analysis would involve understanding the requirements or problems the software will address, which is not mentioned in the scenario. Testing is a separate phase that typically occurs after implementation to ensure the code works as intended.

The flowchart provided in the image represents a decision-making process based on the input value. Given the input of 305, we follow the flowchart’s decision paths. The first decision checks if the input is less than 200, which 305 is not, so we move to the next decision point. The second decision asks if the input is greater than 300. Since 305 is greater than 300, we follow the path for ‘yes’ which leads us to the output “Interview”. Therefore, the correct output for the input 305 according to the flowchart is “Interview”.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

A string is a data type used to store sequences of characters, such as text or words. According to foundational programming principles (e.g., Certiport Scripting and Programming Foundations Study Guide), strings are ideal for textual data but not for numerical or boolean values, which have specific data types (e.g., integers, floats, booleans).

Option A: "A true/false indication of whether a number is composite." This is incorrect. A true/false value is a boolean, not a string. In most languages (e.g., Python’s True/False, C’s 0/1), booleans are a distinct type.

Option B: "A positive number between 2 and 3." This is incorrect. A number between 2 and 3 (e.g., 2.5) is a floating-point value, not a string. Strings could represent numbers as text (e.g., "2.5"), but this is not the primary use.

Option C: "The word 'positive'." This is correct. The word "positive" is a sequence of characters, perfectly suited for a string data type (e.g., char[] in C, str in Python).

Option D: "A positive whole number." This is incorrect. Whole numbers are stored as integers (e.g., int in C or Python), not strings, unless represented as text (e.g., "123"), which is not implied here.

Certiport Scripting and Programming Foundations Study Guide (Section on Data Types).

Python Documentation: “Strings” (https://docs.python.org/3/library/stdtypes.html#text-sequence-type-str).

W3Schools: “C Strings” (https://www.w3schools.com/c/c_strings.php).

In the context of writing a function that determines whether a given number N is even or odd, the input to the function should be the number itself, represented by the variable N. The function will then perform the necessary logic to determine whether N is even or odd and return the appropriate value (0 for even, 1 for odd).

Here’s how the function might look in Python:

Python

def check_even_odd(N):

"""

Determines whether a given number N is even or odd.

Args:

N (int): The input number.

Returns:

int: 0 if N is even, 1 if N is odd.

"""

if N % 2 == 0:

return 0 # N is even

else:

return 1 # N is odd

# Example usage:

number_to_check = 7

result = check_even_odd(number_to_check)

print(f"The result for {number_to_check} is: {result}")

AI-generated code. Review and use carefully. More info on FAQ.

In this example, if number_to_check is 7, the function will return 1 because 7 is an odd number.

The most appropriate programming structure to repeatedly ask a user if they want to play a game again is a while loop. This is because a while loop can execute a block of code as long as a specified condition is true. In this case, the condition would be whether the user wants to play again or not. The while loop will continue to prompt the user after each game and will only exit if the user indicates they do not want to play again. This makes it an ideal choice for tasks that require repeated execution based on user input.

For loops are generally used when the number of iterations is known beforehand, which is not the case here as we cannot predict how many times a user will want to play the game. Nested for loops and if-else statements are not suitable for repeating tasks based on dynamic user input.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The Waterfall methodology follows a linear sequence: requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance. According to foundational programming principles (e.g., Certiport Scripting and Programming Foundations Study Guide), the design phase involves creating detailed technical specifications, including outlining functions to be written.

Waterfall Phases Overview:

Analysis: Defines requirements (e.g., “the system must track books, loans, and returns”).

Design: Creates technical plans, including system architecture and function specifications (e.g., addBook(), checkOutBook()).

Implementation: Writes the code for the specified functions.

Testing: Verifies the system meets requirements.

Option A: "Testing." This is incorrect. Testing verifies the implemented functions, not their planning.

Option B: "Analysis." This is incorrect. Analysis identifies high-level requirements (e.g., system features), not specific functions.

Option C: "Design." This is correct. In the design phase, the programmer outlines the functions needed (e.g., function names, parameters, and purposes) to support the inventory system, creating a blueprint for implementation.

Option D: "Implementation." This is incorrect. Implementation involves coding the functions, which occurs after they are outlined in the design phase.

Certiport Scripting and Programming Foundations Study Guide (Section on Waterfall Methodology).

Pressman, R.S., Software Engineering: A Practitioner’s Approach, 8th Edition (Chapter 2: Waterfall Model).

Sommerville, I., Software Engineering, 10th Edition (Chapter 2: Waterfall Design).

The variable max should be declared before it is used. So, the corrected algorithm would be:

Declare variable max.

Set max = a.

If b > max, set max = b.

Put max to output.

This way, the variable max is declared before being assigned the value of a, and the rest of the algorithm can proceed as given. Thank you for the question! Let me know if you have any other queries.

 Dijkstra’s shortest path algorithm is designed to find the shortest path between nodes in a graph. This can be applied to various scenarios, such as routing problems, network optimization, and in this case, determining the most fuel-efficient flight plan. The algorithm works by iteratively selecting the unvisited vertex with the smallest tentative distance from the source, then visiting the neighbors of this vertex and updating their tentative distances if a shorter path is found. This process continues until the destination vertex is reached or all reachable vertices have been visited.

In the context of the given options, Dijkstra’s algorithm is best suited for option B, where the goal is to find the most fuel-efficient path (i.e., the shortest path) between multiple points (coordinates of five positions). The algorithm is not designed to solve problems like searching for an element in an array (option A), finding the longest common subsequence (option C), or searching for a name in a list (option D).

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is a standard for structuring content on the web. According to foundational programming principles, HTML is a markup language, not a programming language, and does not involve typing (dynamic or static) or OOP.

Option A: "Dynamically typed." This is incorrect. HTML is not a programming language and does not involve variables or typing. Dynamic typing applies to languages like Python or JavaScript.

Option B: "Markup." This is correct. HTML is a markup language used to define the structure of web content using tags (e.g.,

,

).

Option C: "Statically typed." This is incorrect. HTML does not involve typing, as it is not a programming language. Static typing applies to languages like C or Java.

Option D: "Object-oriented." This is incorrect. HTML lacks OOP features like classes, inheritance, or polymorphism, as it is designed for content structuring, not programming.

Certiport Scripting and Programming Foundations Study Guide (Section on Markup Languages).

W3Schools: “HTML Introduction” (https://www.w3schools.com/html/html_intro.asp).

Mozilla Developer Network: “HTML Basics” (https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/HTML_basics).

In the Waterfall approach to software development, the phase that defines and specifies how to build a program is the Design phase. This phase follows the initial Analysis phase, where the requirements are gathered, and precedes the Implementation phase, where the actual coding takes place. During the Design phase, the software’s architecture, components, interfaces, and data are methodically planned out. This phase translates the requirements into a blueprint for constructing the software, ensuring that the final product will meet the specified needs.

The scenario describes conditional logic where service fees depend on these factors:

Printing: There seems to be a base service fee whenever tickets are printed.

Mailing: An additional fee applies if tickets are printed and mailed.

The most suitable way to model this logic is using multiple if statements:

First if: Checks if tickets are printed. If so, add the base printing fee.

Second if (nested): Checks if tickets are mailed (and by implication, already printed). If so, add the mailing fee.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

In Agile, the design phase focuses on creating technical specifications and plans for implementing the software, including identifying functions, classes, or modules. According to foundational programming principles, this phase bridges requirements (from analysis) to coding (in implementation).

Option A: "Determining the functions that need to be written." This is correct. During the design phase, the team specifies the functions, methods, or components (e.g., function signatures, class methods) required to meet the requirements. For example, designing a calculateTotal() function for an e-commerce system occurs here.

Option B: "Determining the goals of the project." This is incorrect. Project goals are established during the analysis phase, where requirements and user stories are defined.

Option C: "Writing the required objects." This is incorrect. Writing code (e.g., implementing classes or objects) occurs during the implementation phase, not design.

Option D: "Deciding on the name of the program." This is incorrect. Naming the program is a minor decision, typically made earlier (e.g., during project initiation or analysis), and is not a primary focus of the design phase.

Certiport Scripting and Programming Foundations Study Guide (Section on Agile Design Phase).

Agile Alliance: “Agile Design” (https://www.agilealliance.org/glossary/design/).

Fowler, M., Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code (design principles in Agile).

The provided code defines a function named F that takes two strings si and l2 as input. However, there seems to be a typo in the variable names (si instead of sign and l2 instead of horse).

Inside the function:

Put sl to output: This line likely has a typo as well. It's intended to print the input strings, but there's a missing space between si and l2. Assuming the correction, this line would concatenate si and l2 with a space and print it.

Put 2 to output: This line would print the number 2.

and : This line by itself wouldn't print anything.

Calling the Function Twice:

If F(sign, horse) is called twice:

First Call:

It would likely print "sign horse" (assuming the space is added between si and l2) followed by "2".

Second Call:

It would likely print "sign horse" (assuming the space is added between si and l2) followed by "2" again.

Total Output:

Therefore, the total output when F(sign, horse) is called twice would be:

sign horse 2

sign horse 2

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Describing objects (e.g., classes) and functions for a file compression program involves planning the technical structure and coding it. According to foundational programming principles, this occurs in the design phase (specifying objects and functions) and the implementation phase (writing the code).

Waterfall Phases Analysis:

Analysis: Defines requirements (e.g., “compress files and split them”).

Design: Specifies objects (e.g., FileCompressor class) and functions (e.g., compressFile(), splitFile()) to meet requirements.

Implementation: Codes the described objects and functions.

Testing: Verifies the program works as intended.

Option A: "Analysis and implementation." This is incorrect. Analysis defines high-level requirements, not specific objects or functions, which are detailed in design.

Option B: "Design and implementation." This is correct. Design involves describing the objects and functions (e.g., class diagrams, function signatures), and implementation involves coding them.

Option C: "Implementation and testing." This is incorrect. Testing verifies the coded objects and functions, not their description.

Option D: "Design and testing." This is incorrect. Testing occurs after implementation, not when describing objects and functions.

Certiport Scripting and Programming Foundations Study Guide (Section on Waterfall Methodology).

Sommerville, I., Software Engineering, 10th Edition (Chapter 2: Waterfall Design and Implementation).

Pressman, R.S., Software Engineering: A Practitioner’s Approach, 8th Edition (Waterfall Phases).

Safety and proper procedure are paramount when replacing a light bulb to avoid any electrical hazards or injuries. First, always ensure the lamp is turned off to prevent electrical shock. Next, carefully unscrew the broken or burnt-out bulb from the socket; it might be hot, so caution is advised. After removing the old bulb, screw in the new working bulb securely but without overtightening to avoid damaging the bulb or socket. Finally, turn the lamp on to verify that the new bulb is functioning properly.

References The answer and explanation are based on general knowledge and common safety practices for handling electrical appliances; specific documents or standards on Scripting and Programming Foundations are not applicable here.

The image displays multiple-choice options for ordering tasks needed to safely replace a lamp’s light bulb, providing an interactive learning method for understanding safety procedures in handling electrical items.

Start with the input value (in this case, 54).

Follow the flowchart’s paths and apply the operations as indicated by the symbols and connectors.

The rectangles represent processes or actions to be taken.

The diamonds represent decision points where you will need to answer yes or no and follow the corresponding path.

The parallelograms represent inputs/outputs within the flowchart.

Use the input value and apply the operations as you move through the flowchart from start to finish.

Space complexity refers to the amount of memory space required by an algorithm in relation to the size of the input data. It is a function, often denoted as S(N), that represents the number of fixed-size memory units used by the algorithm for an input of size N. For example, if an algorithm needs to create a new array that is the same size as the input array, its space complexity would be linear, or O(N), where N is the size of the input array. This term is crucial in evaluating the efficiency of an algorithm, especially when working with large data sets or in systems with limited memory resources.

Markup languages, such as HTML, XML, and SGML, are distinct from programming languages in that they are used for structuring, formatting, and defining the presentation of content within documents. They utilize tags to denote how elements should be displayed, but do not contain logic or algorithms to perform computations or process data123. Instead, markup languages are concerned with the layout and organization of text and images, making them more descriptive and less about executing tasks4.

A function definition is the blueprint for a block of code designed to perform a specific task. Here's what it includes:

Function Name: A unique name to identify and call the function (e.g., calculate_area).

Inputs (Parameters/Arguments): Values or variables passed into the function when it's called (e.g., width, height).

Outputs (Return Value): The result the function produces after processing (e.g., the calculated area). This value may or may not be explicitly returned.

Statements (Function Body): Contains the code that performs the actions and calculations within the function.

In the context of Agile software development, when a programmer begins writing the first version of a program after receiving requirements from customers, they are engaging in the Implementation phase. This phase is characterized by the actual coding or development of the software, where the focus is on turning the design and analysis work into a working product. It’s a part of the iterative process where developers create, test, and refine the software in successive iterations.

The Agile approach emphasizes incremental development and frequent feedback, with each iteration resulting in a potentially shippable product increment. The Implementation phase is where these increments are built, and it typically follows the Design phase, where the system’s architecture and components are planned out.

In the Waterfall model, a traditional software development lifecycle (SDLC) methodology, the design phase follows the requirements phase. During the design phase, the focus is on creating a detailed specification of the system to be developed. This includes:

Architectural Design: Outlining the overall structure of the system.

Interface Design: Defining how the software components will interact with each other and with users.

Component Level Design: Specifying the behavior of individual components.

Data Structure Design: Establishing how data is organized within the system.

The deliverable produced during this phase is a comprehensive design document that describes the architecture, components, interfaces, and data structures of the application in detail. It serves as a blueprint for the next phase of the Waterfall process, which is implementation (coding).

We start with the given function: ( Y = -2x - 2 ).

To find ( f(-1) ), we substitute ( x = -1 ) into the function.

Plugging in the value: ( f(-1) = -2(-1) - 2 = 2 - 2 = 0 ).

References

Scripting and Programming Foundations documents.

The loop condition expression is the part of a loop that determines whether the loop will continue to execute or terminate. It is evaluated before each iteration of the loop, and if it evaluates to true, the loop body is executed; if it evaluates to false, the loop terminates. In the options provided, F < 27 is a Boolean expression that checks if f is less than 27, which is typical of a loop condition used to control the number of iterations of the loop.

Initialize two variables: x and Count to zero.

Iterate through each number in the NumList.

For each number in the list:

Add the number to x.

Increment Count by one.

After processing all numbers in the list, calculate the average:

Average = x / Count.

The NumList contains the following integers: [1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8].

Calculating the average: (1 + 3 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8) / 6 = 30 / 6 = 5.0.

However, none of the provided options match this result. It seems there might be an error in either the options or the calculation.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The least common multiple (LCM) of two positive integers a and b is the smallest number that is a multiple of both. A function to compute the LCM requires a and b as inputs to perform the calculation (e.g., using the formula LCM(a, b) = (a * b) / GCD(a, b), where GCD is the greatest common divisor). According to foundational programming principles, the function’s inputs must include all values needed to compute the output.

Task Analysis:

Goal: Compute LCM of a and b.

Required inputs: The two integers a and b.

Output: The LCM (denoted as L in the question).

Option A: "L only." This is incorrect. L is the output (the LCM), not an input. The function needs a and b to calculate L.

Option B: "a * b." This is incorrect. The product a * b is used in the LCM formula (LCM = (a * b) / GCD(a, b)), but the function needs a and b separately to compute the GCD and then the LCM.

Option C: "a and L." This is incorrect. L is the output, not an input, and the function does not need L to compute itself.

Option D: "a and b." This is correct. The function requires the two integers a and b as inputs to compute their LCM. For example, in Python:

def lcm(a, b):

def gcd(x, y):

while y:

x, y = y, x % y

return x

return (a * b) // gcd(a, b)

Certiport Scripting and Programming Foundations Study Guide (Section on Functions and Parameters).

Cormen, T.H., et al., Introduction to Algorithms, 3rd Edition (Chapter 31: Number-Theoretic Algorithms).

GeeksforGeeks: “LCM of Two Numbers” (https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/lcm-of-two-numbers/).