Foundations Of Computing: From Hardware Essentials To Web Design GXEST203 2024 Scheme - Dr Binu V P

As humans, we generally count and perform arithmetic using the decimal, or base 10, number system. The base of a number system is simply the number of different digits, including zero, that exist in the number system. In any particular set of circumstances, a particular base might be chosen for convenience, efficiency, technological, or any other reasons. Historically, it seems that the main reason that we use base 10 is that humans have ten fingers, which is as good a reason as any. Any number can be represented equivalently in any base, and it is always possible to convert a number from one base to another without changing its meaning. Computers perform all of their operations using the binary, or base 2, number system. All program code and data are stored and manipulated in binary form.Calculations are performed using binary arithmetic. Each digit in a binary number is known as a bit (for binary digit) and can have only one of two values, 0 or 1. Bits ar...

  What is a Bit? Bit stands for binary digit . It is the smallest unit of data in computing. A bit can have one of two values: 0 or 1 . These values represent the binary system, which computers use to process and store information. What is a Byte? A byte is a collection of 8 bits . A byte is the basic unit for storing data in computers because it is large enough to represent a single character (like A or 1 ). For example: The letter A is represented in binary as 01000001 (8 bits = 1 byte). Units of Measurement: From Bytes to Larger Units As data grows, we need larger units to measure it. Here’s how the hierarchy works: Kilobyte (KB) 1 Kilobyte = 1,024 bytes (not 1,000, because computers work in powers of 2. 2^10=1024). Example: A small text file or a few paragraphs of text may be around 4 KB. Megabyte (MB) 1 Megabyte = 1,024 Kilobytes = 1,048,576 bytes. Example: A high-resolution photo may take up 2–5 MB. Gigabyte (GB) 1 Gigabyte = 1,024 Megabytes = 1,073,741,824 bytes. E...

The data entered as characters, number digits, and punctuation are known as alphanumeric data .It is tempting to think of numeric characters as somehow different from other characters, since numbers are often processed differently from text. Also, a number may consist of more than a single digit, and you know from your programming courses that you can store and process a number in numerical form within the computer. There is no processing capability in the keyboard itself, however. Therefore, numbers must be entered into the computer just like other characters, one digit at a time. At the time of entry, the number 1234.5 consists of the alphanumeric characters ‘‘1’’, ‘‘2’’, ‘‘3’’, ‘‘4’’, ‘‘.’’, and ‘‘5’’. Any conversion to numeric form will take place within the computer itself, using software written for this purpose. For display, the number will be converted back to character form.The conversion between character and number is also not ‘‘automatic’’ within the computer. There are ti...

The structure and organization of virtually all modern computers are based on a single theoretical model of computer design called the Von Neumann architecture, named after the brilliant mathematician John Von Neumann who proposed it in 1946. The Von Neumann architecture is based on the following three characteristics: Four major subsystems called memory, input/output, the arithmetic/ logic unit (ALU), and the control unit. These four subsystems are diagrammed in Figure 5.2. The ALU and the control unit are often bundled together in what is called the Central Processing Unit or CPU. The stored program concept, in which the instructions to be executed by the computer are represented as binary values and stored in memory. The sequential execution of instructions, in which one instruction at a time is fetched from memory and passed to the control unit, where it is decoded and executed. Memory and Cache Memory is the functional unit of a computer that stores and retrieves the instructions ...