Parallel & Distributed Computing
Fall 2006
Comments About Final
Course Grading Comments
• Approximate Weights for Course Grade
– Homework
40%
– Midterm Exam 30%
– Final Exam
30%
• Final must be given as specified in the
Fall’06 Schedule of Classes
– Exam is from 12:45-3:00 on Thursday Dec 13.
– Exam will be in same room as used for
classes
Information to Study for Final
• Class slides covering test material are very
important
– Slides contain some information not in text
– Probably best to study these first
• Assigned textbook reading material
– Can use these to clarify or expand your
understanding of topics covered in the slides
• Homework assignments
– Only homework since midterm test are problem sets 3
and 4.
– Some questions from these two problem sets are
possible
• For example, tracing code segments
Primary Topics for Final
• Chapters 3-5, & 7 in Quinn
– Slides are primary reference
– Reference from textbook may be useful to
clarify or extend knowledge
• Two presentations on Walker’s
complementary research area.
– In past, Walker has created one question on
this
• Slides on ATC
– Ability to discuss topics covered
– How ATC shows importance of SIMD
Primary Topics for Final (cont.)
• Some classic parallel computing topics covered
before midterm. For example,
– Basic knowledge topics and basic terminology
• Multicomputers, multiprocessors, UMA, NUMA, etc.
– Flynn’s Taxonomy Classification
– Data Parallel vs Control Parallel
• Topics tested on midterm
– You should study solutions to midterm questions after
midterm was graded and returned.
– Solution to midterm will be posted.
• Probably a password will be required.