Programming languages

Question 1

Machine code

Answer 1

• hard for humans to understand

- binary representation of instructions that the CPU can decode and execute

Question 2

High-level language

Answer 2

• written in python/C++/Java
• 1 instruction = many in machine code
• can run on multiple processors
• easier and quicker to use
• less memory efficient
• can be slow to execute if not optimised

Question 3

low-level laguage

Answer 3

-written in assembly language
-used in embedded systems (where instructing hardware
directly is important)
- 1 instruction in LLL = 1 in machine code
-only works on the processer it was coded for
-harder to understand
-fast to execute
-memory efficient

Question 4

translater

Answer 4

converts programming languages into machine code in order to make the instructions readable/executable for the processor. (includes assembler, interpreter, compiler)

Question 5

compiler

Answer 5

• converts high-level into machine code
• translates all the instructions at once
• harder to find errors
• processing time is long but is very quick for replication

Question 6

interpreter

Answer 6

• converts high-level into machine code
• executes line by line, immediately
• finds errors as it goes along
• runs slowly

Question 7

3 reasons why high level is used over low level languages

Answer 7

• easier to read and write
• easier to debug
• easier to learn/understand

Question 8

2 reasons why people use low level languages

Answer 8

• can work directly with the hardware

- takes up less storage/memory

Question 9

problems using low levels for open-source software

Answer 9

• open source is used so other programmers can contribute and edit it for their own uses
• low-level is not commonly known so its harder for other programmers to use

Question 10

how is sound stored in a computer

Answer 10

• sound recorded by a microphone
• converted into electrical signals
• analogue wave sampled at regular intervals
• samples converted into binary and stored

Question 11

why sound is not always sampled to give the highest audio quality (4)

Answer 11

-higher quality means a larger file size

• lower quality is useful for low storage capacity
• useful for sending files to other devices
• useful for streaming across the internet

Question 12

how are bitmap images stored on a computer

Answer 12

• bitmap is a rectangular grid of pixels
• each pixels is represented as binary
• each binary number represents a different colour

Question 13

1 adv and 1 disadv of storing an image in high resolution

Answer 13

• better quality

- larger file size/more storage