Information Technology in FOCUS for CSEC

SECTION 1 OF SYLLABUS: CHAPTER 12: Multitasking, Multiprocessing and Multiprogramming

Activity # 12

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Chapter 12: Multitasking, Multiprocessing and Multiprogramming

Examination based short answer questions

INSTRUCTION: Answer all questions in your own words as accurately as possible.

1. State the ONE difference between Multitasking, and Multiprogramming. (1 mark)

Possible Solution:

Multiprogramming is also the ability of an operating system to execute more than one program
on a single processor machine. While Multitasking is the ability of an operating system to
execute more than one task simultaneously on a single processor machine.

2. State the ONE difference between Multiprogramming and Multiprocessing. (1 mark)

Possible Solution:

Multiprogramming is also the ability of an operating system to execute more than one program
on a single processor machine. While Multiprocessing is the ability of an operating system to
execute more than one process simultaneously on a multi-processor machine. In this, a
computer uses more than one CPU at a time.

(i) Sight One example of how either term is used. (3 marks)

Possible Solution:

Multitasking System

1
 Information Technology in FOCUS for CSEC
SECTION 1 OF SYLLABUS: CHAPTER 12: Multitasking, Multiprocessing and Multiprogramming

Multiprocessing System

3. State the ONE difference between Multiprocessing and Multitasking (1 mark)

Possible Solution:

Multiprocessing is the ability of an operating system to execute more than one process
simultaneously on a multi-processor machine. In this, a computer uses more than one CPU at a
time. While Multitasking is the ability of an operating system to execute more than one task
simultaneously on a single processor machine.

4. Complete the following statements: (4 marks)

Possible Solution:

(i) A Logic Parallelism is the processing of data in the memory simultaneously.

(ii) The operating system is able to keep track of where you are in these tasks and go
from one to the other without losing information; this is considered
Multitasking.

(iii) Multiprogramming is running several programs at a time with a single processor.

(iv) Multiprocessing is the use of two or more Central Processing Units (CPU ) or
processors at the same time. Most new computers have dual-core processors, or
feature two or more processors.

TOTAL 10 MARKS