Binary

OBJECTIVES Explain why a computer

represents data in the form of binary

Explain the terms related to data storage: bit, byte, character, word

Calculate the number of bits and bytes in a word/s

State the different units of storage

Keywords Bit Byte Character Word

Why the computer stores data

For processing Temporarily

using Random Access Memory (RAM)

For later use permanently

using secondary storage

Computers do not store data the way we see it, but in the form of binary digits

Why binary digits?

The computer is an electronic device The computer is a digital device

Electronic the computer uses electricity to work

Digital the use of binary digits to store data

HOW IS DATA STORED? A computer’s memory is made

up of bi-stable devices (two-state) i.e. components can be set in one of two states, represented by a 0 or 1 (called a binary digit). A bit is the smallest unit of storage in a computer.

A byte is made up of 8 bits which is one character (letter, digit, symbol and even a space)

WHAT’S GOING ON??

Hi!

Huh??

A 01000001

So if a byte is the amount of storage needed to store one character then a computer with 32,000 bytes of memory will be able to store up to 32,000 characters!

QUESTIONS??How many bytes

are in the following?

1. Hi!2. Have fun!3. A4. 9

How many bits are in the following?

1. Hi!2. Have fun!3. A4. 9

HOW IS DATA STORED?

Location: a unit of storage space in a computer's main memory

Address: A number that is assigned to each location in a computer’s memory

data

location

address 001 002 003

Word: a fixed-sized group of bits that are handled together by the machine.

Word size: The number of bits (in a word)

C

Calculations 1 ch = 1 byte = 8 bits

Example: How many bits are in: have

fun! 1 ch = 8 bits 9 ch = 8 * 9 = 72 bits

UNITS OF STORAGE:MEANING OF

ACRONYMS BIT- BINARY DIGIT ( 1 or a 0)

KB- KILOBYTE

MB-MEGABYTE

GB- GIGABYTE

TB- TERABYTE

UNITS OF STORAGE

1 CHARACTER = 1 BYTE = 8

BITS

1KB= 1024 BYTES

1MB= 1024KB

1GB= 1024MB

1TB= 1024GB

HOW IS DATA MEASURED?Can you complete the table

below?UNITS OF STORAGE 1 GB= 1 byte = 1 MB = 1 TB = 1 character = 1 KB =

Copy and complete.ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. A number that is assigned to each location in memory is called _________

2. A kilobyte is equivalent to ____ bytes

3. A unit of storage space in Main Memory is known as a _______

4. A fixed group of bits that are handled together by the machine is a ______

5. The number of bits in a word is known as a ____________

6. A device that exists in one of two states is __________

7. What do the following acronyms mean? GB, TB, KB, MB

8. Arrange the units of storage in order from highest to lowest: KB, GB, MB, TB, byte