CDA3101-F13-Exam1-ANSWERKEY

Sep 29, 2026

Exam answer key and scoring template for course CDA3101 (Exam 1). Includes exam administration statements, allowed materials policy, and phone/electronic device restrictions, followed by solution content for Q1–Q4. Questions cover defining core computer architecture terms (e.g., Moore’s Law, datapath, benchmark, Von Neumann bottleneck, registers), computing execution time from instruction count, CPI, and clock rate, explaining MIPS instruction formats, and calculating average CPI and runtime using instruction mix and machine CPI values.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Exam Instructions and Policies

Allowed Materials and Device Rules

Solution Key

Q1 Definitions

Q2 Execution Time Calculations

Q3 MIPS Instruction Formats

Q4 Average CPI and Runtime

PRINT YOUR NAME: KEY UFID [5:8]: RECITATION Date/Time: Your CDA3101 Number: I have not looked at anyone else’s paper, and I have not obtained unauthorized help in completing this exam. Also, I have adhered to and upheld all standards of honesty as stated in the University Honesty Policy and in the course syllabus. YOUR SIGNATURE: DATE: | YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE ONLY THE FOLLOWING ON YOUR DESK OR WORKTABLE:
1. A HANDWRITTEN CRIB SHEET 8-1/2 x 11 inches (BOTH SIDES USABLE)
2. A BASIC CALCULATOR – NO GRAPHING, NO PROGRAMMABILITY
3. YOUR PEN OR PENCIL AND AN ERASER
ALL OTHER OF YOUR BELONGINGS BROUGHT INTO THE CLASSROOM MUST BE ON THE FLOOR, UNLESS YOU REQUIRE EYEGLASSES OR AN OPTICAL MAGNIFYING GLASS. | | --- | | PLEASE TURN ALL CELL PHONES, iPHONES, iPADS, AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES (EXCEPT CALCULATORS) , OFF AND PUT THEM AWAY – RINGTONES AND CELLPHONE CONVERSATIONS NOT PERMITTED DURING EXAM. | PRINT YOUR NAME: KEY CDA3101 NUMBER: SCORES: TOTAL EXAM SCORE: / 120 pts This part for Instructor & TAs only. Q1: Q2: Q3: Q4: Q5: EC-1: EC-2: This exam has six regular questions and one extra-credit question. Complete the questions that are easiest for you first, then complete what you can of the difficult questions. There is no penalty for guessing. However, on questions involving calculation, you must show your work. If you do not show your work, you risk getting only partial credit for any answer. Q1. (25 pts) Define the following terms using 1-3 sentences or a formula (5 pts each): (a) Moore’s Law Moore's law is the observation that, over the history of computing hardware , the number oftransistors on integrated circuits doubles approximately every two years. The period often quoted as "18 months" is due to Intel executive David House, who predicted that period for a doubling in chip performance (being a combination of the effect of more transistors and their being faster) . [Source: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore)'s law] (b) Datapath Part of a computer that does the work of arithmetic and logic calculations and performs other instructions including but not limited to I/O and branching. (c) Benchmark In computing, a benchmark is the act of running a computer program , a set of programs, or other operations, in order to assess the relative performance of an object, normally by running a number of standard tests and trials against it. The term 'benchmark' is also mostly utilized for the purposes of elaborately-designed benchmarking programs themselves. [Source: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benchmark_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benchmark_)(computing) ] (d) Von Neumann Bottleneck The meaning of the term [“von Neumann architecture”] has evolved to mean a storedprogram computer in which an instruction fetch and a data operation cannot occur at the same time because they share a common bus. This is referred to as the Von Neumann bottleneck and often limits the performance of the system. [Source: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann_architecture](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann_architecture) ] (e) Register (in a CPU chip) In computer architecture , a processor register is a small amount of storage available as part of a CPU or other digital processor. Such registers are (typically) addressed by mechanisms other than main memory and can be accessed more quickly. [Source: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processor_register](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processor_register)] PRINT YOUR NAME: KEY CDA3101 NUMBER: Q2. (25 pts) Given the following parameters, answer each of the following two questions for the program P1 on machine M1 (10 pts for 2.1, 15 pts for 2.2): Instruction Count = 26,395 Average CPI = 2.17 Clock Rate = 3.24 GHz 2.1) Calculate the execution time 􀁕texe for P1 on M1 (show all work): 􀁕texe = IC 􀁷 CPI 􀁷 􀁕tclock = IC 􀁷 CPI 􀁷 (clock_rate)-1 = 26,395 instr 􀁷 2.17 cycles/ins

FAQs

What are the allowed items on the desk or worktable during the exam?

A handwritten crib sheet (8-1/2 x 11 inches, both sides usable), a basic calculator (no graphing, no programmability), and your pen or pencil with an eraser.

What must be done with cell phones and other electronic devices during the exam?

All cell phones, iPhones, iPads, and other electronic devices except calculators must be turned off and put away; ringtones and cellphone conversations are not permitted.

How do you calculate execution time in the provided answers?

Use texe = IC × CPI × tclock, where tclock = (clock_rate)^-1; substitute the given instruction count, average CPI, and clock rate, and show all work for full credit.

Sep 29, 2026

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