exercises and solutions
Fundamentals exercises
Fundamentals exercises build fluency with variables, arithmetic, branches, loops, and output. The learner should be able to trace the values by hand before relying on a debugger.
Practical Example
<?php
declare(strict_types=1);
$price = 1200;
$quantity = 2;
$total = $price * $quantity;
echo 'Total: ' . $total . PHP_EOL;
// Prints:
// Total: 2400
Fundamentals exercises should practise variables, arithmetic, conditionals, loops, and output with examples that feel like small application tasks.
Include boundary cases such as an empty basket, zero quantity, or a value exactly on a discount threshold. These reveal whether the learner understands the condition rather than only the happy path.
Practice
Calculate A Discounted Basket Total
Given item totals of 1200, 800, and 500 pence, print the subtotal. Apply a ten-percent discount when the subtotal is at least 2000 pence, then print the final total.
Check the exact threshold and an empty basket.
Show solution
Use array_sum() for the subtotal and a condition using >= 2000. The supplied basket totals 2500, so the final value is 2250. An empty basket stays at 0.
The threshold case matters because > would incorrectly skip a basket worth exactly 2000.
Print An Order Summary
Given order totals of 1250, 0, and 3499 pence, print each total and classify it as empty, standard, or high-value. Treat totals of at least 3000 pence as high-value.