Welcome to the Treehouse Community
Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.
Looking to learn something new?
Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.
Start your free trial![](https://ecs-static.teamtreehouse.com/assets/views/marketing/shared/community-banner-white-47072046c51352fe6a69f5e691ff5700b28bb11d45197d7bdf066d9ea3f72d0c.webp)
![Maryam Kamar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/165efbdc2a12561da2bdf9be81d90dbe?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fecs-static.teamtreehouse.com%2Fassets%2Fcontent%2Fdefault_avatar-445fbbabfc8dc9188fb5967fe43322ee0c3e0dd1e10f378bf8343784af5a13eb.webp&r=pg)
Maryam Kamar
2,549 Pointswhy are we decrementing the dispenser with "--" instead of just doing "-="?
because the teacher said that doing "--" returns what the value 'used to be' and then it increments -- why do we need to do that if we are taking PEZ out. wouldn't it make more sense to simply minus 1 each time with a "-="?
1 Answer
![Steven Parker](https://uploads.teamtreehouse.com/production/profile-photos/969492/micro_tool_chess_set_2.jpg)
Steven Parker
230,688 PointsAs used here, the return value is ignored so there's no functional difference between pezCount -= 1
and
pezCount--
. The choice of the latter is probably only due to the fact that it takes up less space in the code.
Maryam Kamar
2,549 PointsMaryam Kamar
2,549 Pointsthank you so much!