Introduction to Computer System                                                                                                              Print this page
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Basic Working Principle of a Computer

Before going into the details of working principle of a computer, we will analyse how computers work with the   help of a small hypothetical computer.

In this small computer, we do not consider about Input and Output unit. We will consider only CPU and memory module. Assume that somehow we have stored the program and data into main memory. We will see how CPU can perform the job depending on the program stored in main memory.

P.S.  - Our assumption is that students understand common terms like program, CPU, memory etc. without knowing the exact details.

Consider the Arithmatic and Logic Unit (ALU) of Central Processing Unit :

Consider an ALU which can perform four arithmatic operations and four logical operations
To distingish between arithmatic and logical operation, we may use a signal line,

0  -  in that signal, represents an arithmatic operation and
1  -   in that signal, represents a logical operation.

In the similar manner, we need another two signal lines to distinguish between four arithmatic operations.

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