ITPEC FE Morning October 2020 Question 10

Source exam: ITPEC FE Morning October 2020Topic: Computer Systems & Hardware

ITPEC FE Morning October 2020 — Question 10 of 80

Cache Hit/Miss — Average Memory Access Time — calculate effective access time using hit/miss ratio.

Given:
- Miss ratio = 0.2 → Hit ratio = 0.8

- Cache access time = 75 ns

- Main memory access time = 1500 ns (includes cache check time)

Formula:
effective_time = hit_ratio × cache_time + miss_ratio × main_memory_time

Calculation:
= 0.8 × 75 + 0.2 × 1500

= 60 + 300

= **360 ns**

Why not others:
- (a) 315 — incorrect formula or wrong ratio application

- (c) 1,215 — swapped hit/miss ratios: 0.2 × 75 + 0.8 × 1500

- (d) 1,260 — incorrectly adds cache time on every access plus miss penalty

Key rule: When the problem states main memory access time includes cache check time, do NOT add cache time again on a miss — use main memory time directly.

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