Think about call of two intrinsic functions discussed above for a 32-Processor (4×8) Multicomputer:   

The function call NUMBER_OF_PROCESORS () will return 32.                                                    

The function call NUMBER_OF_PROCESORS (1) will return 4.                                                     

The function call NUMBER_OF_PROCESORS (2) will return 8.                                                    

The function call PROCESSORS_SHAPE () would return an array with two elements 4 and 8.

We can employ these intrinsic functions in tandem with HPF directives and array declarations to give flexibility to programmer to declare abstract processor arrays which match available physical resources. E.g. subsequent statement !HPF$ PROCESSORS P(NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS()) declares abstract processor array P with size equivalent to number of physical processors.