Consider the function in C code: void Cal(int a, int b) { if (b != 1) { if (a…

Assumption: the else is paired with the inner if (a != 1). That means when a becomes 1, the code decrements b and resets a to 10, creating nested behavior.

Computation:

• Each time a starts at 10 and is integer-divided by 2 until it becomes 1, stars are printed for the steps: 10 → 5 → 2 → 1. That prints 3 stars per inner cycle.

• b starts at 10 and the outer process continues while b != 1. Each time a reaches 1 we decrement b and reset a to 10. So b takes values 10, 9, ..., 2 — a total of 9 cycles.

• Total stars printed = 3 stars per inner cycle × 9 cycles = 27.

Final answer: 27

Note: If the else were attached to the outer if (b != 1) instead, the function would only print 3 stars in total (for a = 10 → 5 → 2 → 1) because b would never change from 10. The intended interpretation yields 27.