Increment

Doesn't really matter unless you assign that to another variable at the same time (and you probably shouldn't do that anyway).

++x is the only right way

When paid for number of lines:
x = x.getCounter()
.add(new Number()
.setValue(1)
)
);

x += (++x - x--) + ++x + ++x - 2 * --x

@s0LA
++x - x-- = 0

++x + ++x - 2 * --x = 1

@s0LA
every time we x++/++x/--x/x-- we change the value of x (before or after using its value, depending if the sings are before or after the variable) and has to be taken into account for the remainder of the calculation

x += (++x - x--) + ++x + ++x - 2 * --x
x += ++x + ++x - 2 * --x;
x += (x+1) + (x +1 + 1) - 2 * (x +1 + 1 - 1)
x += 2x - 2x + 3 - 2
x += 1

is it confusing? yes, try to avoid complex sentences with those :P