Problem $3$: $(6$ pts$,2$ pts each sub$-$part$)$

One fallacy students and researchers often make is expecting to improve the overall performance of a computer

just by improving only one aspect of the computer. Instructions are classified as: Integer, Floating Point,

Load$/$Store$,$ Branch, in this fictitious processor. Consider a computer running a program that requires $250s,$ with

$70$s spent executing Floating Point $($FP$)$ instructions, $80$s executed Load$/$Store instructions, and $50$s spent

executing branch instructions.

a$.$ By how much is the total time reduced if the time for the FP operations is reduced by $15\%?$

b$.$ By how much is the time for integer $($INT$)$ operations reduced if the total time is reduced by $15\%?$

c$.$ Can the total time be reduced by $15\%$ by reducing only the time for the branch instructions?

Solution: