Final answer:
The cost factors of process termination due to a deadlock include all the listed options: the number of resources held by the process, CPU utilization at the time of deadlock, and the time consumed by the process, which are all constituents of the transaction costs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cost factors of process termination due to a deadlock include multiple aspects related to the use of resources. These resources are not just monetary but also include time and effort put into the process before termination. Hence, the correct answer is d) All of the above, since all the listed options represent different types of costs associated with a deadlocked process. Specifically:
- a) Number of resources the deadlock process is holding - Refers to the physical and virtual resources that the process has acquired and now cannot be used by other processes.
- b) CPU utilization at the time of deadlock - Involves the processing power that was consumed by the process up to the point of deadlock, which adds to the overall cost when the process is terminated.
- c) Amount of time a deadlocked process has thus far consumed during its execution - Is about the time investment in the process, which represents the effort and opportunity cost of not having that time available for other productive work.
All of these factors contribute to what political scientists would describe as 'transaction costs', which include not only monetary expenses but also the use of resources like time and effort in making decisions or, in this context, processing computing tasks.