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Answer:

No. In general, 64 bits are needed.


MIPS Multiply Unit

The multiply unit of MIPS contains two 32-bit registers called hi and lo. These are not general purpose registers. When two 32-bit operands are multiplied, hi and lo hold the 64 bits of the result. Bits 32 through 63 are in hi and bits 0 through 31 are in lo.

High and Low Registers

Here are the instructions that do this. The operands are contained in general-purpose registers.

mult    s,t        # hilo <— $s * $t   (two's comp operands)
multu   s,t        # hilo <— $s * $t   (unsigned operands)

There is a multiply instruction for unsigned operands, and a multiply instruction for signed operands (two's complement operands). Integer multiplication never causes a trap.

Note: with add and addu, both perform the same operation. The "u" means "don't trap overflow". With mult and multu, different operations are carried out. Neither instruction ever causes a trap.


QUESTION 3:

Two small integers are multiplied. Where is the result?