Data Representation: How Computers Store Information

Unit I: Introduction: Understanding Computers

Read the lesson on Data Representation: How Computers Store Information

In this chapter, you will learn how computers represent text, numbers, images, audio, and video using digital data. You will explore binary, hexadecimal, and common methods of storing information while discovering how simple patterns of zeros and ones make modern computing possible. Understanding these concepts provides the foundation for many other areas of computer science.

Goal: In this chapter, you will learn how computers represent text, numbers, images, audio, and video using digital data. You will explore binary, hexadecimal, and common methods of storing information while discovering how simple patterns of zeros and ones make modern computing possible. Understanding these concepts provides the foundation for many other areas of computer science.

Objectives:

• Explain why computers use the binary number system.
• Define the terms bit, byte, and binary digit.
• Convert simple binary numbers to decimal and decimal numbers to binary.
• Describe how text is represented using character encoding systems such as ASCII and Unicode.
• Explain how images, audio, and video are stored digitally.
• Compare units of digital storage, including bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and petabytes.
• Differentiate between data size and data transfer speed.
• Explain how data compression reduces file size.
• Describe how errors can occur during data transmission and how computers detect and correct them.
• Explain why understanding data representation is important in today's digital world.

Please study the material at each of the links below.

1. Number systems: grouping: Quantities can be grouped in different ways.
2. Decimal system: The decimal system is base 10.
3. Binary Numbers: 0 and 1: The binary system is base 2
4. Convert binary to decimal: Video: This video demonstrates converting decimal to binary. 5 minutes
5. Drill: Convert binary to decimal: Practice converting binary numbers to decimal
6. Drill: Convert decimal to binary: Practice converting binary numbers to decimal
7. Optional: Hexadecimal Numbers: Base 16: 4 binary digits can be represented by 1 hex digit.
8. Decimal, Binary and Hexadecimal: Conversion table
9. Optional: Converting Binary to Hexadecimal: This video demonstrates converting binary to hex.
10. Optional Drill: Convert binary to hexadecimal: Practice converting binary to hexadecimal
11. Optional: Converting Hexadecimal to Binary: This video show how to convert binary to hexadecimal.
12. Optional Drill: Convert hexadecimal to binary: Practice converting hexadecimal to binary.
13. RGB Colors: RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue. It is used to represent colors. Be sure to experiment with the sliders.
14. Optional: Scientific notation: Very large or small numbers are often displayed in this format.
15. Optional: How to Write Decimals in Scientific Notation: Video 2.33 minutes
16. Drill: Value of e notation: Practice writing e notation in normal format.
17. Self Study Questions: What do you know about the number systems used in Computer Science?
18. discussion

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