The right sequence of suboperations that are performed in the arithmetic pipeline is-
A. Align the mantissas
B. Add or subtract the mantissas
C. Normalize the result
D. Compare the exponents
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is A

In an arithmetic pipeline for floating-point addition or subtraction, the operations are performed in a specific sequence. Let's analyze the suboperations and their correct order:
Suboperations:
A. Align the mantissas: In floating-point operations, before adding or subtracting the numbers, the mantissas (the fractional parts of the numbers) must be aligned according to the smaller exponent. This ensures that both numbers are at the same scale before they can be added or subtracted. Alignment is critical in maintaining the precision of the result.
B. Add or subtract the mantissas: Once the mantissas are aligned, the next step is to either add or subtract the mantissas, depending on the operation (addition or subtraction of floating-point numbers). This step is performed after the mantissas are properly aligned.
C. Normalize the result: After adding or subtracting the mantissas, the result is usually not in its normalized form. Normalization means adjusting the result so that the leading bit of the mantissa is non-zero (for binary systems, this would mean the leading bit is 1). The normalization process is essential for keeping the result in standard floating-point format.
D. Compare the exponents: Before performing the operation, the exponents of the two numbers are compared to determine how much adjustment is needed for alignment. The exponent of the smaller number is adjusted (through shifting) to align it with the larger number before the mantissas are operated upon.
Correct Sequence of Suboperations:
The correct sequence of suboperations that occurs in an arithmetic pipeline is:
1. D. Compare the exponents: First, compare the exponents to determine how much to adjust the mantissas.
2. A. Align the mantissas: Once the exponents are compared, the mantissas are aligned.
3. B. Add or subtract the mantissas: The aligned mantissas are added or subtracted.
4. C. Normalize the result: Finally, the result is normalized to get it in the correct form.
Thus, the correct order is: D, A, B, C.
The correct answer is: Option a: D, A, B, C.
Information Booster:
1. Mantissa Alignment: In floating-point arithmetic, aligning the mantissas is crucial because it ensures that both numbers are scaled to the same order of magnitude, allowing for accurate addition or subtraction.
2. Normalization: Normalization adjusts the result so that the mantissa falls within a specified range (usually 1 ≤ mantissa < 2 in binary systems). This step ensures that the floating-point result adheres to the standard format.
3. Exponents: The exponents of the numbers are compared and adjusted to make sure that the mantissas are aligned properly before performing the operation.
Additional Knowledge:
· Floating-Point Arithmetic: In floating-point arithmetic, precision is key, and the correct sequence of operations ensures that the result is both accurate and normalized.