The final exam is held on different dates and times for the lecture sessions. Please see the course schedule. The location is your regular classroom.
All material and concepts presented throughout the semester is covered by the exam. Approximately 65-70% of the material will come from earlier parts of the semester; the remaining 30-35% will be the most recent material since exam 2 (March 29). Exam 3 will assume reasonably thorough familarity with the MIPS instruction set architecture. Work problems! And work more problems! Then work more!! Specific sections covered by the exam are listed below.
Here is a set of sample problems for exam 3. Here is a solution. These are from Spring 2009.
Here is a logic problem for practice. In this problem, you have to identify the logic function (e.g., AND, OR, NOT) done by the circuit. The way to approach the problem is to make a truth table for each circuit, and then observe what is being done. A solution is available.
This is another sample problem. This problem asks you to determine the truth table and the non-simplified SOP equation. To solve this problem, simply list the truth table, and go through each combination of the bit patterns. Alternatively, look at the circuit and find the minterms. Turn the minterms into the locations in the table with 1s. Lastly, you can determine the equation from the truth table in the usual way (find the minterms with 1s), or by inspection of the circuit (note the AND gates are each a minterm, a.k.a., a product, and the OR gate is the sum). Here is the solution.
Here is third problem with an interesting twist. The solution is here.
Now, suppose you've been hired by GE to sell more flashing holiday lightbulbs. After taking 447, you get a great idea: Make a circuit that turns on/off one light bulb after another in succession, causing a ripple effect in the lights. You realize that all you need is a D flip-flop and the light bulbs. What is the circuit that you came up with? Here is the solution and the circuit file for Logisim. Do you recognize this operation (hint: it's similar to shift)?
There are also many sample logic problems available from Fall 2009 that might be useful. The problems are here and a solution is here. Take a look at problems 21 to 35 to get a lot of practice on logic!
Sample problems and solutions from past exams:
All material in lectures, labs, and projects from the whole semester is covered by this exam. The emphasis will be on the most recent material for the single cycle, multi-cycle and pipelined data paths. Performance evaluation will also be an emphasis.
All sections covered by the past exams are included on exam 3. For specific sections, please see the information sheets for exams 1 and 2:
To guide you in reviewing the material from earlier in the semester,
here are the problems that were most commonly missed on exam 1 and 2.
Some questions on the final exam may be drawn from this same
material. It is recommended that you review your past exams.
In addition to the sections listed on previous exam study sheets, the material we've covered recently is listed below: