Theory question 103
Information Technology in Accounting(a) State two differences between hardware and software in electronic data processing.
(b) Outline four functions of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a computer.
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(a) Any two: hardware is the physical parts that can be seen and touched, software is the programs/instructions that cannot be touched; hardware carries out the work, software tells the hardware what to do; examples: hardware – keyboard, monitor, CPU, printer; software – operating system, accounting package.
(b) Any four: performs arithmetic operations (ALU); performs logical comparisons; controls and coordinates all parts of the computer (control unit); fetches, decodes and carries out program instructions; holds data and instructions being processed in main memory; controls the flow of data between input, storage and output devices.
Give contrasting pairs in (a), not two separate lists.