Which of the following methods are considered static methods?

Static methods in programming are defined at the class level and can be called without creating an instance of the class. They are often used for utility functions or operations that don't require access to instance-specific data (i.e., the object's attributes).

In this case, the correct answer identifies that only the specified methods (III and IV) are static methods. Methods classified as static typically do not reference instance variables and are independent of any class instances. In comparison, methods that require object state or instance-specific operations would not be static.

Therefore, understanding the definition and application of static methods is crucial in differentiating between static and instance methods. Static methods serve a fundamental role in programming by facilitating shared functionality without reliance on object instances, thus enhancing code organization and reusability.