Multiple choice

Evaluate the following SQL statement:

SELECT e.employee_id, (.15* e.salary) + (.5 * e.commission_pct) + (s.sales_amount * (.35 * e.bonus)) AS CALC_VALUE FROM employees e, sales WHERE e.employee_id = s.emp_id;

What will happen if all the parentheses are removed from the calculation?

  1. The value displayed in the CALC_VALUE column will be lower

  2. The value displayed in the CALC_VALUE column will be higher

  3. There will be no difference in the value displayed in the CALC_VALUE column

  4. An error will be reported
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

SQL operator precedence ensures multiplication always happens before addition, regardless of parentheses. The expression (.15*e.salary) + (.5*e.commission_pct) + (s.sales_amount * (.35*e.bonus)) evaluates identically without parentheses because all multiplication operations occur before any addition operations. The nesting of parentheses doesn't change this fundamental precedence rule. Options A and B are incorrect because the value remains the same. Option D is incorrect because no error occurs.

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