Can't understand the answer of this question from Challenge

Question

This code was in a challenge:
Write the output of:
int a=8; int b=9;
if((++a>8) && (--b>=9))
System.out.println(b);
else
System.out.println(a)

Here the correct answer was given 9. But I don't understand; since the logic inside if is false(--b is 8 so not >= 9) so the code should execute else statement and print a right? And a is 8. However the correct answer is 9 !
So does incrementing inside if statements affect variables value? Can you tell me where I'm mistaken?

Answer 1

Yes you are right
The statement goes to else to print a, which after the ++a inside if, becomes 9

Answer 2

1 more point, if 1st condition is false, then next condition will not be checked [it could have affected value of b here if ++a>8 was false]
//try it 👍 [many java challenges are on this short-circuiting concept also]

Answer 3

if((++a>8)&&(--b>=9)){//}

++a is short hand notation for a = a+1
--b is short hand notation for b= b-1

Here new value of a will be 9
new value of b will be 8

The above statement will be like
if((9>8)&&(8>=9)) i.e. if((true)&&(false))

Since if condition evaluates to false, so else block will be executed
Inside else block the statement in printing value of a

Answer 4

Yes, a++ affect the a var. Its like:
a= a + 1;