Ace the SAS Advanced Programming Certification 2025 – Code Your Way to Expert Status!

The correct choice utilizes the syntax for creating a temporary array in SAS that initializes the array elements with specific values. In SAS, the _temporary_ keyword is used to denote that the array is temporary, meaning that the values are stored temporarily for processing without being written to the output dataset.

The choice presents the values within parentheses, which is essential to properly define an array in SAS. The use of commas is correct in this context, as it separates the individual values being assigned to the array elements. When you declare an array in SAS using the _temporary_ keyword followed by values in parentheses, the structure informs SAS that these values are not to be retained after the data step has completed.

This syntax allows programmers to create arrays for manipulation during data processing, where the values are only relevant within that scope. Temporary arrays are often used for calculations or intermediate storage during the data step and do not affect the data set being manipulated.

Options that do not use the _temporary_ keyword or use incorrect syntax do not conform to SAS's requirements for defining a temporary array. Hence, those options would not be valid for this context. The nuance in correct syntax, including the use of parentheses and commas alongside the appropriate terminology, is crucial for successful data manipulation in SAS programming