Unit 1 - Digital Information Flashcards
binary numbers use base-2 with only two digits
0 & 1
byte
8 bits
in binary, each position represents
a power of 2
why do computers and digital devices use binary (base-2) numbers
because they operate with two discrete states, represented as 0 (off) and 1 (on)
decimal number
base-10 number with 10 possible digits
bit
a contraction of “BInary DigIT”; the single unit of information in a computer, typically represented as a 0 or 1
to find how many distinct numerical values can be represented with x bits
2^x
to find the largest value that can be represented by # bits
2^# - 1
overflow error
error from attempting to represent a number that is too large
- occurs when the number is too larger given the number of bits that exist
round off error
Error from attempting to represent a number that is too precise. The value is rounded.
floating point representation
- a number is multiplied by a base that’s raised to an exponent
- numbers that aren’t integers, like fractions and irrational numbers use this
- can’t fully represent all numbers
analog data
- data with values that change continuously, or smoothly, over time
- examples of analog data: music, colors of a painting, or position of a sprinter during a race
digital data
- date that changes discretely through a finite set of possible values
sampling
a process for creating a digital representation of analog data by measuring that analog data at regular intervals called samples
abstraction
we create simplified representations of something more complex; a way of hiding information
encode
to convert something into a particular form
decode
to convert a coded message into its original form
digital image layer
displays a digital approximation based on a sampling of an analog image
compression
represent the same information with fewer characters
lossless compressions
- a process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something without losing any information
- reversible
lossy compression
- a process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something in which some information is lost or thrown away
- this process is not reversible.
lossy compression is useful when file size is a concern or when it needs to be sent in a reasonable amount of time
- example: multimedia - images, video, audio
intellectual property
encompasses various forms of protection for creations of the mind, including copyright, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets.
copyright
protects original creative works and grants exclusive rights to creators
