Which CPU scheduling algorithm minimizes the average

Solution

The Shortest Job First (SJF) scheduling algorithm selects the process with the smallest execution time next. When all processes arrive at the same time, SJF minimizes the average waiting time because shorter jobs are executed sooner, preventing longer jobs from holding up shorter ones unnecessarily. This is because, by running the shortest job first, you reduce the waiting time for subsequent processes. For example, if you have three processes with burst times of 2, 4, and 8, SJF will execute the process with burst time 2 first, followed by 4, and then 8. The waiting times for the respective processes would be minimized, resulting in a lower overall average waiting time compared to other algorithms like FCFS, where the order of execution is determined by arrival time, not burst time. Why Other Options Are Wrong: A) FCFS: FCFS can lead to a high average waiting time, especially if a long process arrives before a short one (the convoy effect). C) Round Robin (RR): RR focuses on fairness and time-sharing rather than minimizing waiting time. It can result in higher waiting times due to frequent context switches. D) Priority Scheduling: This algorithm may lead to starvation of lower-priority processes, which can increase waiting time for certain processes. E) SRTF: While SRTF also favors shorter processes, it requires preemption and is more complex to implement compared to non-preemptive SJF.