A process executes the following segment of code: ``c for (i = 1; i

Question

A process executes the following segment of code:

```c
for (i = 1; i <= n; i++)
fork();
```

**The number of new processes created is:**

(i) n
(ii) (n(n+1))/2
(iii) 2^n - 1
(iv) 2^n

Accepted Answer

**Answer: (iii) 2^n - 1 new processes (2^n total including parent)**

Each `fork()` doubles the number of processes. Loop `for i=1..n fork()` creates:
```
after i=1: 2 processes
after i=2: 4 processes
...
after i=n: 2^n processes total
```
New processes = total - original parent = 2^n - 1. If question counts the parent as well, answer (iv) 2^n is sometimes marked; strictly new = 2^n -1.

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