Arizona State University (ASU) CSE110 Principles of Programming Exam 1 Practice

A single silicon chip made from millions of transistors is commonly known as the Central Processing Unit (CPU). The CPU is often referred to as the brain of the computer, responsible for executing instructions and processing data. It performs various calculations and logical operations that are essential for running programs and managing system resources. The transistors on the chip serve as individual switches that control the flow of electricity, allowing the CPU to perform complex tasks by processing binary data.

In a computer system, the CPU is crucial for executing code and interacting with other hardware components. The other options—input device, network interface, and memory module—refer to different components within a computer system. Input devices are peripherals used for user interaction (like a keyboard or mouse), network interfaces facilitate communication over networks, and memory modules (like RAM) store data temporarily for quick access by the CPU. Thus, these components serve distinct functions and do not embody the same concept as the CPU, which integrates millions of transistors on a single silicon chip for computational purposes.