Chapter 1 Questions/Answers

What are the five major hardware components?

-CPU (the central processing unit) -main memory -secondary storage devices -input devices -output devices

Internally, the CPU consists of what two units?

-the control unit -the ALU (arithmetic and logic unit)

What is a memory address?

a unique number assigned to a byte

Describe the steps of the fetch/decode/execute cycle?

fetch: the cpu's control unit fetches, from the main memory, the next instruction in the sequence of program instructions decode: the instruction is encoded in the form of a number. The control unit decodes the instruction and generates an electronic signal execute: the signal is routed to the appropriate component of the computer (such as the ALU, the disk drive, or some other device). The signal causes the component to perform an operation.

Why do computers have both main memory and secondary memory?

main memory is used as temporary storage. Whatever was saved in this memory is lost when the computer is turned off, making it useful for programs that run. secondary memory is used to store memory for the long term, regardless if there is a program running. Useful for storing anything you need to access in the long-term.

What is purpose of the memory address?

serves to identify the memory location of a specific byte

What does the term multitasking mean?

describes a system that divides the allocation of hardware resources and the attention of the CPU among all the executing programs