Which data type would you use to store a whole number that can be negative, such as encoder counts?

• A. Int
• B. Float
• C. Double
• D. Char

Answer: (A)

Storing a whole number that can be negative requires a signed integer type, because signed integers include a sign bit to represent both positive and negative values. This makes them suitable for things like encoder counts, which can increase or decrease depending on direction. Floating-point types (float, double) are meant for numbers with fractions and can introduce rounding errors when counting discrete steps, so they’re not ideal for exact counts. A character type is for a single symbol, not a numeric quantity. So the best choice for a negative or positive whole number is the integer type.