Final answer:
The degree of multi-programming is the number of processes in memory. This defines multi-programming in operating systems, not to be confused with the number of processes executed per unit time, the number of processes in the ready queue, or the number of processes in the I/O queue.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking about the concept of multi-programming in the context of operating systems. Specifically, it asks what the degree of multi-programming refers to. The correct answer is:
- d) the number of processes in memory
Multi-programming is a method used to increase the utilization of a computer's CPU by keeping multiple processes in memory at the same time, which allows the CPU to be switched from one process to another without waiting for the previous process to complete its execution. When a running process enters a waiting state, for example due to an I/O request, the CPU can switch to another process that is ready to run, making efficient use of the CPU's time and increasing system throughput.
This is not to be confused with:
- a) the number of processes executed per unit time
- b) the number of processes in the ready queue
- c) the number of processes in the I/O queue
These options describe different aspects of process management and system performance but do not define the degree of multi-programming.
In response to the provided information related to other discussions:
- Discussion b's mention of period relates to the time per cycle, often in milliseconds, which is a unit of time.
- The question about multiplicative prefixes in computer memory can be answered with the term Megabyte (MB), which is the unit for one million bytes of computer memory.