COMP 105: HW #5


You are welcome to discuss these questions with your classmates, the instructor, or a TA. However, If you make use of any outside information in answering these questions, or if you receive help from anyone, you need to acknowledge that along with your answer.


PART 1: Homework Exercises

  1. Consider the following tasks: (1) adding 100 numbers stored in main memory, and (2) adding a number to itself 100 times. Although both tasks require 100 additions, the second would be executed much more quickly than the first would. Why?* (2pts)

  2. Describe at least one advantage of assembly languages over machine languages.* (1pts)

  3. Describe two advantages of high-level language programming over machine language programming.* (2pts)

  4. What is the difference between a compiler and an interpreter?* (2pts)

  5. What is the difference between a compiler and an assembler?* (2pts)

  6. Provide both the Boolean formula (in terms of a and b) and the truth table for the output z of the following circuit: (4pts)
    Exercise #6a

  7. A 3-input majority function has an output of 1 if and only if at least two of its three inputs are 1. Construct a truth table for a 3-input majority function, and draw a circuit that implements the truth table.(4pts)
* These questions are taken from A Balanced Introduction to Computer Science, David Reed, 2005.