Arizona State University (ASU) CSE110 Principles of Programming Exam 1 Practice

The correct answer indicates that the loop's execution count cannot be determined because it relies on random values. In programming, when a loop's condition depends on a random variable, the outcome is inherently unpredictable. As long as the random values are not defined or restricted in a way that guarantees a particular outcome, the loop’s behavior can change with each execution.

In this scenario, if the loop’s continuation depends on a random value that avoids resulting in zero, there’s no definitive way to predict how many iterations will occur. Each iteration could potentially generate a value that satisfies or negates the continuation condition, leading to a varying number of loop executions each time the program runs. Thus, stating that the number of iterations is indeterminate captures the essence of this randomization effect accurately.