Instructions & Programs: Crash Course Computer Science

The video tutorial explains the basics of CPU functionality, focusing on how CPUs are programmable and controlled by software. It covers a simple program execution using LOAD and ADD instructions, introduces advanced instructions like JUMP and JUMP_NEGATIVE, and discusses infinite loops. The tutorial also explains how conditional jumps can control program flow and logic. Finally, it highlights the limitations of instruction sets in hypothetical CPUs and provides a real-world example with the Intel 4004 processor.

What makes a CPU powerful in terms of its functionality?

• Its ability to store unlimited data

• Its large physical size

• Its programmability to perform different tasks

• Its ability to execute a single task efficiently

In a simple program, what does the LOAD_A instruction do?

• It adds two numbers

• It halts the program

• It stores data into memory

• It loads data from memory into register A

What is the purpose of a JUMP instruction in a program?

• To add two numbers

• To change the order of execution

• To load data into a register

• To stop the program

How does a JUMP_NEGATIVE instruction affect program flow?

• It jumps if the result is positive

• It jumps if the result is negative

• It jumps unconditionally

• It jumps if the result is zero

What is an infinite loop in a program?

• A loop that runs indefinitely without a stopping condition

• A loop that runs only once

• A loop that runs a fixed number of times

• A loop that runs twice

What is one strategy modern CPUs use to handle more instructions?

• Limiting memory access

• Reducing the number of registers

• Using larger or variable-length instructions

• Using smaller instruction sets

Why do modern CPUs have a large number of instruction variants?

• To reduce power consumption

• To simplify the CPU design

• To limit the number of programs that can run

• To support a wide range of operations and optimizations