A processor has 40 distinct instructions and 24 general purpose registers. A 32-bit instruction word has an opcode, two register operands and an immediate operand. The number of bits available for the immediate operand field is ____________
[This Question was originally a Fill-in-the-blanks Question]
(A) 16
(B) 8
(C) 4
(D) 32
Answer: (A)
Explanation: 6 bits are needed for 40 distinct instructions ( because, 32 x = 32 – ( 6 + 10 ) = 16 bits