Part a: The number of transistors per IC in 1972 seems to be about 4,000 (a rough estimate by eye). Using this estimate and Moore's Law, what would you predict the number of transistors per IC to be 20 years later, in 1992 ? Prediction = Number Part b: From the chart, estimate (roughly) the number of transistors per IC in 2014. Using your estimate and Moore's Law, what would you predict the number of transistors per IC to be in 2040? Part c: Do you think that your 2040 prediction in Part b is technologically achievable? Why or why not?

To predict the number of transistors per IC in 1992, we can apply Moore's Law, which suggests that the number of transistors on an integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years. From 1972 to 1992 is a span of 20 years, which means around 10 cycles of doubling. So, starting with 4,000 transistors: 4,000 * (2^10) = 4,000 * 1,024 = 4,096,000 transistors. For part b, if we estimate the number of transistors per IC in 2014 to be around 5 billion (5,000,000,000), using Moore's Law to predict for 2040 (26 years later or about 13 cycles of doubling): 5,000,000,000 * (2^13) = 5,000,000,000 * 8,192 = 40,960,000,000,000 transistors (or 40.96 trillion). As for whether the 2040 prediction is technologically achievable, it's a mixed bag! While semiconductor technology has pushed incredible boundaries over the decades, we’re now grappling with physical limits, such as quantum effects and heat dissipation. New materials or computing architectures might pave new paths, but it’s uncertain if traditional silicon-based ICs can sustain Moore’s Law to reach such high figures. Challenges in fabrication processes and the sheer complexity of managing trillions of transistors also play a role, but innovation does have a knack for surprising us!