Question 33

We are given:

• Total identical resources $m = 6$.
• Each process requires at most $w = 2$ resources.

Under simultaneous peak demand analysis:

• If $N = 1$: peak demand is $1 \times 2 = 2 \le 6$.
• If $N = 2$: peak demand is $2 \times 2 = 4 \le 6$.
• If $N = 3$: peak demand is $3 \times 2 = 6 \le 6$. Even if all 3 processes demand their maximum simultaneously, the available resources (6) can completely satisfy all of them concurrently without any waiting.

• If $N = 4$: total maximum demand is $4 \times 2 = 8 > 6$. Simultaneous maximum requests cannot all be satisfied at once, creating resource competition and potential blocking.

The question asks which of the given values could lead to a deadlock; among the options $1, 2, 3, 4$, option D ($N = 4$) is the only value where aggregate demand exceeds the total pool of resources.