Explain how multithreading improves performance over a single threaded solution.

Multithreading improves performance over a single threaded solution in several ways:

1. Better CPU Utilization: In a single-threaded environment, if a thread is waiting for a response from an I/O operation, the CPU remains idle and its cycles are wasted. In a multithreaded environment, if one thread is waiting for an I/O operation, the CPU can switch to another thread and continue executing it, thus utilizing CPU cycles more efficiently.

2. Concurrency: Multithreading allows multiple operations to be performed concurrently. This is particularly beneficial in applications that require user interaction. For example, in a web browser, one thread can be used to render the webpage while another thread can handle user input, providing a smooth user experience.

3. Parallelism: On a multi-core processor, multithreading can allow multiple threads to be executed in parallel, significantly improving the performance of the application.

4. Resource Sharing: Threads within the same process can share resources, such as memory, which can lead to significant performance improvements in some applications.

5. Responsiveness: In a single-threaded environment, if a thread is performing a long-running operation, the entire application can become unresponsive. In a multithreaded environment, a separate thread can be used to perform the long-running operation, keeping the application responsive.

6. Simplicity of Program Structure: Multithreaded programs can often be written in a way that is simpler and more straightforward than their single-threaded counterparts, particularly when the program involves many independent or semi-independent tasks.

In conclusion, multithreading can significantly improve the performance of an application by better utilizing CPU cycles, allowing for concurrency and parallelism, sharing resources, improving responsiveness, and simplifying program structure.