Explanation:

The correct option is (b) the instructions that tell the computer what to do. Software is the non-physical component of a computer system, consisting of programs, data, and routines that provide instructions for the computer's hardware to perform specific tasks. It dictates the operations and functions of the computer. Option (a) 'the computer and its associated equipment' describes hardware, not software. Option (c) 'computer components that act to accomplish a goal' is vague and could refer to either hardware or software, but 'instructions' is more precise for software. Option (d) 'an interface between the computer and the network' describes network software or hardware, not software in general. Option (e) 'the interaction between the computer and its database' describes a specific function (data management), not the overall definition of software. Thus, software is fundamentally the set of instructions guiding the computer's actions.