4.09 Abstraction: Inside the CPU

4.09 Abstraction: Inside the CPU Curriculum Page

Portfolio Reflection Questions:

1. Which generation of the 4-bit simulators above is the most abstract? Why?
   • The 4-bit generation 2 simulator is the most abstract because of its usage of assembly language. With assembly language, symbolic names can be used for the instructions and data (instead of binary numbers with machine language), and the use user forgets some of the complexity like inputting manually memory addresses and data values.
2. Explain the purpose or function of the RAM and the CPU.
   • The purpose of the RAM is to remember/store data and memory like the procedures and values. The purpose of the CPU is to execute the procedures in order to run a program.
3. Describe in your own words the difference between the fetch and execute steps.
   • The difference between fetch and execute steps is that fetch retrieves the data and the instructions. The execute steps actually runs the steps and instructions that were fetched.
4. Summarize the differences between assembly language and machine language programming.
   • The differences between assembly language and machine language programming are that assembly language is higher abstraction and a higher level language because it can use symbols and variables to correspond with instructions. In addition, it can load and store the data by itself so the user doesn't have to manually input the information. Machine language programming is when binary code is used for commands and data. In addition, the user has to input the data and go into the memory in order to retrieve the instructions.