What is the purpose of an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) in a CPU?

Solution (By Examveda Team)

Option A: Control I/O operations
This option is incorrect. I/O operations are typically managed by dedicated controllers or interfaces, not by the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU).

Option B: Manage memory operations
Managing memory operations involves activities such as fetching data from memory or storing data back to memory, which is usually handled by other components such as the Memory Management Unit (MMU) or specific memory controllers, not by the ALU.

Option C: Perform arithmetic and logical operations
This option is correct. The primary function of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) in a CPU is to execute arithmetic operations (like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) and logical operations (like AND, OR, NOT) on data stored in its registers.

Option D: Store intermediate results
Storing intermediate results is not the primary function of the ALU. It typically stores results in designated registers or passes them on to other units for further processing.

Conclusion:
Among the options given, Option C: Perform arithmetic and logical operations correctly describes the main purpose of an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) in a CPU.