Which of the following is a common misconception about the trade-offs between paging and segmentation?

medium🪤 Complexity Trap Q13 of Q15

Operating Systems - Paging vs Segmentation - Address Translation

APaging eliminates external fragmentation but can cause internal fragmentation

BPaging requires fixed-size blocks, which simplifies memory allocation

CSegmentation always provides better memory protection than paging

DSegmentation can lead to external fragmentation due to variable segment sizes

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Analyze Paging eliminates external fragmentation but can cause internal fragmentation
Paging does eliminate external fragmentation but may cause internal fragmentation; this is true.
Step 2: Analyze Segmentation always provides better memory protection than paging
Segmentation provides logical division but does not inherently guarantee better protection than paging; protection depends on implementation.
Step 3: Analyze Paging requires fixed-size blocks, which simplifies memory allocation
Paging uses fixed-size pages, simplifying allocation; this is true.
Step 4: Analyze Segmentation can lead to external fragmentation due to variable segment sizes
Segmentation can cause external fragmentation due to variable segment sizes; this is true.
Final Answer:
Option C -> Option C
Quick Check:
Protection depends on hardware and OS, not solely on segmentation.

Quick Trick: Protection depends on implementation, not just segmentation

Common Mistakes:

MISTAKES

Trap Explanation:

PITFALL

Option C is a misconception; candidates often overgeneralize segmentation's protection benefits.

Interviewer Note:

CONTEXT

Tests understanding of nuanced trade-offs and common misconceptions between paging and segmentation.

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