Final answer:
Multiple processes can be in the ready state in a single-processor system due to time-sharing or multitasking, allowing processes to take turns using the CPU even though only one process can execute at a time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question explores the concept of process management in the context of an operating system. In a single-processor system, it is indeed possible to have more than one process in the ready state, even though only one process can be executing at a time. The operating system manages multiple processes by scheduling them, which means that processes can take turns using the CPU. This technique is known as time-sharing or multitasking.
Consider the following scenario: A process currently using the CPU might perform an operation that requires waiting for some event, such as an I/O operation, causing the operating system to move this process to a waiting state. Meanwhile, another process that was in the ready state can be scheduled to use the CPU. Thus, there can be various processes in the ready queue, waiting for their turn to use the CPU.
The key takeaway is that the ready state is simply an indication that a process is ready to use the CPU and doesn't reflect CPU usage at any instant. As a result, a single-processor system can certainly have multiple processes in the ready state, effectively waiting in line until the CPU becomes available to them.