Operating Systems - Producer-Consumer Problem Using Semaphores
Which of the following statements about the producer-consumer problem using semaphores is INCORRECT?
Which of the following statements about the producer-consumer problem using semaphores is INCORRECT?
medium🐞 Bug Identification Q14 of Q15
Step-by-Step Solution
Step 1: Initialization of semaphores
'empty' starts at buffer size; 'full' starts at zero -- both correct.Step 2: Role of mutex
Mutex is essential to ensure mutual exclusion when accessing the buffer; semaphores alone do not provide this.Step 3: Blocking behavior
Producers and consumers block on semaphores to avoid busy-waiting, which is correct.Step 4: Why 'Mutex is optional if semaphores are used correctly' is incorrect
Claiming mutex is optional is a common misconception; without mutex, race conditions occur.Final Answer:
Option A -> Option AQuick Check:
Mutex is mandatory for mutual exclusion [OK]
Quick Trick: Mutex is mandatory; semaphores track counts
Common Mistakes:
MISTAKES- Believing semaphores alone guarantee mutual exclusion
- Misinitializing semaphore counts
- Thinking blocking is done by mutex
Trap Explanation:
PITFALL- Option A is tempting because semaphores do block threads, but they do not protect critical sections from concurrent access.
Interviewer Note:
CONTEXT- Tests candidate's ability to spot subtle misconceptions about synchronization primitives
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