Suppose we have only 320 words of memory

x1 = alloc(32)
x2 = alloc(32)
...
x10 = alloc(32)
free(x1, 32)
free(x3, 32)
free(x5, 32)
free(x7, 32)
free(x9, 32)
// now have 160 bytes of free memory
z = alloc(50) // fails!

Our memory starts to look like the Rolex Learning Center!

Some steps to address this:

• always merge adjecent blocks (e.g. suppose there was free(x4,32) )
• not sufficient in general
• in general must do compaction (move blocks to put them together)