Final answer:
The wait-for graph is a deadlock detection algorithm that can be used when all resources have either a single instance or multiple instances.
Step-by-step explanation:
The wait-for graph is a deadlock detection algorithm that represents a set of processes and the resources they are waiting for as a directed graph. This algorithm is used to detect deadlocks in a system where each process is waiting for one resource to be released by another process before it can proceed. The wait-for graph is applicable when:
- All resources have a single instance (option a)
- All resources have multiple instances (option b)
In both scenarios, the graph can be used to examine the relationships between processes and the resources they require. A cycle in the wait-for graph indicates the presence of a deadlock.