Question 1 of 20
How do `math.ceil()`, `math.floor()`, and `math.trunc()` differ for a negative value, and why is saying they all 'round' insufficient?
Strong Interview Answer
`ceil` moves toward positive infinity, `floor` toward negative infinity, and `trunc` toward zero. For `-3.7`, those results are `-3`, `-4`, and `-3`. The direction matters most when the input is negative.
What to Listen For
- ceil toward +infinity
- floor toward -infinity
- trunc toward zero
- negative-number behavior
Caution
Listen for the direction of each operation, not vague language such as 'round up' without explaining negative values.