For Loop

Question

for (int i = 2; i < 10; i = i*i) {
System.out.println(i);
}

here

i = 2

then i < 10, i.e 2 < 10 is true

then i x i and i is 2
also,
i x i i.e 2 x 2 = 4

then loop must run 4 times right?

but the answer is 2

Why 2, please explain.

Answer 1

The loop runs while i is less than 10.

The first run through i = 2 so it runs, then it multiplies i by i and stores that value in i.

The second run i = 4 (2x2 from the multiplying) so it runs again then multiplies i by i and stores that value in i.

The third run through i = 16 (4x4 from the multiplying) so it no longer runs the for loop.

Hope that helps, if you have any more questions or want it explained a little more feel free to let me know.

Answer 2

At the beginning you have i = 2

1st iteration i = 2 :
i < 10 -> 2< 10 which is TRUE and the loop runs
and the new i is:
i = 2*2 = 4

2nd iteration with i = 4 :
4 < 10 which is TRUE and the loop runs
and the new i becomes:
i = 4*4 = 16

In the 3rd iteration, i = 16 :

16<10 is FALSE and the loop stops here

So the loop runs only 2 times.

Hope that helps