java binary count

Question

I need to know how to figure out the result of the SOUT without using of PC.

public static int bits(int n) {
    return n & (0xeeeeeeee|0x66666666);
}

What does it return for bits(6);? I know it returns 6, but why?

Answer 1

Convert the hexadecimal literals to binary literals by hand and then it will become more clear.

As this is homework, I think that this is an appropriate enough answer without giving too many details away.