01 - Computer Basics | Problem Set Flashcards
Answer the following questions using what you learned about the basics of computers. These questions are meant to challenge your understanding of the concepts covered in the previous lessons, articles, and quizzes. Do your best to answer each question and refer back to the content if you need to refresh your knowledge.
Within computing, what are input and output? What is the purpose of each?
Input is how people physically interact with computers. By interacting with physical sensors, binary data is created and sent to the CPU for the event to be processed. Output is data processed and sent out by the CPU to interact physically with the user through devices such as monitors, speakers, and printers.
CPUs generally consist of three main components: a control unit (CU), an arithmetic and logic unit (ALU), and a collection of registers. Compare the main functions of each of these three components.
The control unit (CU) is the overseer of the CPU, responsible for controlling and monitoring the input and output of data from the computer’s hardware. Its primary job is making sure that data is sent to the right component at the right time, and arrives with integrity.
The arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) is where all of the processing of the computer takes place. It is the fundamental part of the CPU that actually does the arithmetic calculations of the data as well as the handling of logical comparisons and conditionals.
The register, or immediate access store, is a limited space, high-speed memory mounted on the CPU for quick processing. It provides the CPU with a place to store values that are crucial for the calculations the ALU is currently processing.
Both primary and secondary memory attempt to store data for later use by the CPU. Describe one benefit and one drawback for both primary memory and secondary memory.
Primary memory is much faster and is used only for temporary, short-term storage, so the data is lost when it is no longer needed or the computer loses power.
Secondary memory is slower, but can be used to permanently store data such as photos or text documents.
Convert the binary value 1101 to a decimal value.
The formula to find this answer is
(1 * 2^3) + (1 * 2^2) + (0 + 2^1) + (1 * 2^0) which equals 13.
For a breakdown of this:
The rightmost value is 1 - its decimal value is determined by multiplying 1 with the value 2 to the power of 0 (20) which is 1. We use 2 here since that’s the base of binary values like 10 is the base of decimal values.
The value of the next digit to the left is 0. We’ll increase the exponent value by 1. Its decimal value is 0 multiplied by 21 which equals 0.
The value of the next digit to the left is 1. We’ll increase the exponent value by 1 again. Its decimal value is 1 multiplied by 22 which equals 4.
The value of the next digit to the left is 1. We’ll increase the exponent value by 1 again. Its decimal value is 1 multiplied by 23 which equals 8.
1 + 0 + 4 + 8 = 13
Define throughput and latency.
Throughput is the total amount of data that can be transferred during a given amount of time while latency is the amount of delay before that transfer of data begins.
