Computing Fundamentals: Number Systems, ASCII, Algorithms and Errors

What counting system does the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a digital computer operate in?

Binary counting system (base 2)

Convert 1011 Binary (Base 2) to Base 10.

1011-> (1 x 2^0) + (1x2^1) + (0 x 2^2) + (1 x 2^3) = 11

What is the hexadecimal representation?

A = 10, B =11, C = 12, D =13....

What does ASCII stand for?

American Standard Code for Information Interchange

What is an algorithm?

A set of instructions that tells a computer what to do

What are numerical methods?

Procedures for performing complicated operations in terms of elementary operations

What is a flow chart?

A graphical representation of algorithms

What is pseudocode?

A way to represent algorithms that cannot be directly understood by computers

What are syntax errors?

Errors due to typographical mistakes, such as misspellings or unmatched parentheses

What are run-time errors?

Errors that occur during program execution, such as division by zero

What are logic errors?

Errors due to faulty program logic that the computer cannot recognize

Why is it dangerous to believe that a computer is always right?

It can lead to overlooking errors and incorrect results

What is the purpose of an algorithm in computing?

To provide a clear set of instructions for the computer to execute

What does the term 'overflow' refer to in computing?

A condition where a calculation exceeds the maximum limit of a data type