AP CS Principles: Unit 1

Decimal

a system for representing numbers using combinations of the digits 0 - 9

Binary

 A way of representing information using only two options

Bit

A contraction of "Binary Digit";  the single unit of information in a computer, typically represented as a 0 or 1

Byte

8 bits

Overflow Error

Error from attempting to represent a number that is too large

Round-off Error

Error from attempting to represent a number that is too precise. The value is rounded

Analog Data

Data with values that change continuously, or smoothly, over time. Some examples of analog data include music, colors of a painting, or position of a sprinter during a race

Digital Data 

Data that changes discretely through a finite set of possible values

Sampling

A process for creating a digital representation of analog data by measuring the analog data at regular intervals called samples.

Data Compression

A process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent a piece of information

Lossless Compression

 A process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something without losing any information. This process is reversible

Lossy Compression 

 A process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something in which some information is lost or thrown away. This process is not reversible

Intellectual Property

A work or invention that is the result of creativity, such as a piece of writing or a design, to which one has rights and for which one may apply for a patent, copyright, trademark, etc

Creative Commons

 A collection of public copyright licenses that enable the free distribution of an otherwise copyrighted work, used when an author wants to give people the right to share, use, and build upon a work that they have created

Abstraction

When we create simplified representations of something more complex. This lets us hide the details and focus on problems at a higher level