What component performs arithmetic operations such as addition and subtraction in the CPU?

The component responsible for performing arithmetic operations such as addition and subtraction within the CPU is known as the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU). The ALU is a critical part of the CPU that executes all arithmetic calculations and logical operations required during processing. This includes not only basic operations like addition and subtraction but also complex tasks such as multiplication, division, and logical comparisons.

The ALU works in conjunction with other components of the CPU. For example, it receives data from registers and processes this data based on instructions provided by the control unit. The results of these operations can then be stored back in registers or sent to memory, depending on the specific operations being executed.

Overall, the ALU is fundamental to the processing capabilities of the CPU, allowing it to perform the calculations necessary for executing programs and handling tasks in computing environments.