Numeric And Alphanumeric Assignment

Note: Please do not use the links below as a reference. Find other references.
P1. Explain using examples how numeric and alphanumeric data can be coded within a computer
system
How to Answer
 What is numeric data? E.g. Decimal, Floating point, Octal
 What is alphanumeric data? E.g. Hexadecimal
 What language does the computer understand? Explain what binary is?
 What is character encoding? Give examples e.g. ASCII, Unicode
 Give an example of how a text can be encoded by ASCII and then give the binary equivalent
P2. Explain using examples how different types of data can be converted and stored in computer system
How to Answer
 Explain how an image is represented? E.g. pixels
 Explain the importance of file formats e.g. JPEG, PNG
 Explain how audio is represented? E.g. sample rate
 Explain
 Explain how audio and images are converted to binary
 Explain how video is represented on the computer.
Useful Links
P3. Convert numeric data between different number systems including floating point
How to Answer
 Convert from decimal to binary (Use a number of your choice)
 Convert from binary to decimal (Use different number)
  Convert from Decimal to hexadecimal (Use different number)
 Hexadecimal to decimal (Use different number)
 Floating point to binary (Use different number) e.g. 5.75 to binary
 Binary to floating point (Use different number) e.g. 10111011.011 to decimal
Note: You cannot pass without showing the steps for achieving the answer
Example: Convert 78 to binary
78 R

2 39 0

2 19 1

2 9 1

2 4 1

2 2 0

2 1 0

2 0 1

The above table shows the steps for converting from decimal to binary. This works by
dividing the decimal number by 2 and keeping the remainder. The answer should be
read from the bottom to the top. Therefore, the answer is 00100111
P4. Carry out Boolean logic operations ( start the assignment from here DAVID)
How to Answer
 Draw a Boolean logic gates diagram that shows all six operators
 OR, AND, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR (See example below)
 Create truth tables showing the results for each of the combinations
 Give a brief explanation of the diagram and table
Useful Links
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zc4bb9q/revision/3
https://creately.com/app/?tempID=gc7qvpsj1&login_type=demo (For drawing logic gates)
P5. Illustrate the key computer system components and how they interact
How to Answer
 Include an image of Von-Neumann Architecture and explain the components
 Explain input devices, CPU and its components (Control Unit, ALU and Registers), the memory unit
(RAM) and then output devices. Give an example showing how these components work.
 Include images of each individual component
Useful Links
https://www.computerscience.gcse.guru/theory/von-neumann-architecture
P6. Explain the different types of memory that can be attached to a processor
How to answer
 Explain the different types of registers (e.g. MAR,MDR, AC, PC, CIR)
 Explain Cache memory and the types (e.g. L1, L2, l3)
 Explain the RAM and different types (E.g. DDRAM)
 Explain ROM (Read only-memory) and types
 Explain the hard drive and its function
P7. Explain how polling and interrupts are used to allow communication between processor and
peripherals
How to answer
 Explain the concept of polling with real world examples
 Explain the concept of interrupts with real world examples
 Explain how both of them are used for communication between the processor and peripherals
P8. Compare Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) chips and Complex Instruction Set Computer
(CISC) chips.
How to Answer
 Explain RISC and how it works
 Explain CISC and how it works
 Compare both of them based on different criteria
Useful Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zmb9mp3/revision/3
P9. Illustrate the use of the different processor registers in the fetch execute cycle
How to Answer
 Explain the steps involved in the fetch-execute cycle
Useful link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zws8d2p/revision/3