Final answer:
To increment or decrement the variable num_users based on the value of update_direction, you can use a conditional expression in Python: num_users = num_users + 1 if update_direction == 3 else num_users - 1. This exercises the use of a ternary operator or conditional expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks how to use a conditional expression in a programming context to either increment or decrement a variable called num_users based on the value of another variable called update_direction. If update_direction is equal to 3, then num_users should be incremented; otherwise, num_users should be decremented.
The correct conditional expression in Python would look like this:
num_users = num_users + 1 if update_direction == 3 else num_users - 1
This is known as a ternary operator or a conditional expression in Python. It evaluates the condition update_direction == 3 and selects the first expression num_users + 1 if the condition is true, or the second expression num_users - 1 if the condition is false. After the evaluation, we print out the new value of num_users, as shown in the example given by the student.