Which one of the following is the restriction of indirect addressing?
2022
Which one of the following is the restriction of indirect addressing?
- A.
Page-size ≤ 2ᵏ
- B.
Page-size ≤ 2ᵏ⁻¹
- C.
Page-size ≥ 2ᵏ
- D.
Page-size ≥ 2ᵏ⁻¹
Attempted by 611 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Key idea: indirect addressing uses part of the address field to indicate indirection, reducing the bits available for the page offset.
If the address space has k bits, normally up to 2ᵏ addresses are representable.
Indirect addressing consumes one bit to indicate indirection, leaving k−1 bits available for the actual offset/page addressing.
Therefore the maximum page size is 2ᵏ⁻¹, so the restriction is:
Conclusion: Page-size ≤ 2ᵏ⁻¹. This ensures the indirect address fits within the available bits.