What two main components make up the central processing unit?

The central processing unit (CPU) is the primary component responsible for executing instructions and processing data in a computer. It is composed of two main parts: the control unit (CU) and the arithmetic logic unit (ALU).

The control unit directs the operation of the processor, managing the execution of instructions by coordinating the activities of the CPU and regulating the flow of data to and from the other components of the system. It interprets the instructions from programs and tells the ALU and the other parts of the computer what to do.

On the other hand, the arithmetic logic unit performs arithmetic operations (such as addition and subtraction) and logic operations (such as comparisons). The combination of these two units allows the CPU to perform complex calculations and make decisions based on the data it processes.

The other options incorporate components that are important but do not constitute the two main functional parts of the CPU. Read-only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM) are types of memory used to store data and instructions but are not parts of the CPU itself. They serve essential roles in the overall functioning of a computer system, but they do not directly contribute to the CPU operation in the way that the control unit and arithmetic logic unit do.