MIPS Code Analysis: Finding the Initial Value of a Register

Can you determine the initial value of a register in MIPS assembly language?

Given a specific result in register $t0, how can you reverse the operations performed to find the initial value?

Reversing Operations in MIPS Assembly Language

To determine the initial value of a register in MIPS assembly language, we need to reverse the operations performed on the result register. Let's analyze the given MIPS code snippet to find the initial value of $t0 and subsequently, the value of $s7.

Understanding MIPS Code Analysis

In the provided MIPS code snippet, the following operations are performed on $t0:

• Perform a bitwise AND operation between $t1 and $t2, storing the result in $t0.
• Shift the value in $t0 to the left by two positions.
• Perform a bitwise OR operation between $t0 and $t3, storing the result in $t0.

To reverse these operations and find the initial value of $t0, we need to:

• Undo the OR operation by XORing $t0 with $t3.
• Undo the shift operation by shifting $t0 to the right by two positions.
• Undo the AND operation by XORing $t0 with $t2.

By reversing these operations using the given result in $t0 (1001 0000 1101 0000 0000 1001 0000 0000), we can calculate the initial value of $t0. Setting $s7 equal to this initial value will provide the desired value for $s7.