Explain the programming steps necessary to make a class's member variable static.

Question: Explain the steps necessary to create a static member variable in a C++ class and how to access it. Answer: To create a static member variable in a C++ class and access it, follow these 4 steps: 1. Define the class: Start by defining the class within which the static member variable will be created. For example, create a class named "ExampleClass". 2. Declare the member variable as static: Inside the class definition, declare the member variable and add the keyword "static" before the variable's type. This will define the variable as a static member variable of the class. 3. Define the static member variable outside the class: All static member variables must be defined outside the class definition because their memory is shared among all instances of a class. To define the static member variable, state its type, use the scope resolution operator (::) followed by the variable name, and assign it a value if needed. 4. Access the static member variable: To access the static member variable from outside the class, use the scope resolution operator (::) with the class name and variable name. No object instance is required to access a static member.