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Assignment 1 Computational Thinking

This document is a BTEC Level 2 software assignment submitted by Jamie Squires. The assignment contains explanations of binary, hexadecimal, and RGB values used in computer systems. It also includes converting decimal numbers to scientific notation and between decimal, binary, and hexadecimal representations. Additionally, the assignment reports on an error in a finance department spreadsheet, explaining the likely cause and describing issues of division by zero, arithmetic overflow, and arithmetic underflow that can occur in computer numeric storage.

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497 views

Assignment 1 Computational Thinking

This document is a BTEC Level 2 software assignment submitted by Jamie Squires. The assignment contains explanations of binary, hexadecimal, and RGB values used in computer systems. It also includes converting decimal numbers to scientific notation and between decimal, binary, and hexadecimal representations. Additionally, the assignment reports on an error in a finance department spreadsheet, explaining the likely cause and describing issues of division by zero, arithmetic overflow, and arithmetic underflow that can occur in computer numeric storage.

Uploaded by

api-272358643
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BTEC LEVEL [2]

[SOFTWARE]
NAME:

[Jamie Squires]

TEACHERS NAME:

[Chris Pegg]

ASSIGNMENT TITLE:

[Computer Calculations]

ASSIGNMENT No:

[L2S-U18_A1-CP]

HAND IN DATE:

[Monday, 20 June 2011]

[Unit 18] [Computational

Assignment [L2S-U18_A1-CP]

Thinking]

P1
a. Produce a short report that explains how the following calculations are used in a
computer system;

Binary: Binary is a base 2, 8 bit number system that numeric values are represented
by different combinations of 0s and 1s. This is also called off or on (like a light
switch). This is the primary language that computers and other electronic devices
use.

Hexadecimal: Hexadecimal is a numbering system that has a base of 16 character


digits to represent all numerical values. Also uses the ten numbers in the decimal
system (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9), hexadecimals also use the letters from A to F
to make a hexadecimal number, values from ten to fifteen.

RGB Values: RGB values are a colour system of red, green, and blue they each use
8 bits each which have integer values from 0 to 255. That makes
256x256x256=16777216 possible colours that could be output to the display.

138 Words
b. Write the following decimal numbers using scientific notation. Make sure that you
show your calculations and relevant working out for each answer;
200 = 2 x102
2x10x10=200

450 = 4.5 x 102

4.5x10x10=450

10000 = 1 x 104

1x10x10x10x10=10000

37600 = 3.76 x 104

3.76x10x10x10x10=27600

163000 = 1.63 x 105

1.63x10x10x10x10x10=163000

c. Complete the table below, converting between binary, hexadecimal and decimal.
Include your working out on a separate sheet of paper;

Decimal

Binary

Hexadecimal

20

10100

14

0000 0111

30

11110

30

17

10001

11

25

0001 1001

19

255

11111111

FF
2|Page

[Jamie Squires]

[Unit 18] [Computational

Thinking]

Assignment [L2S-U18_A1-CP]

M1 You have been asked to investigate an error with the financial department spreadsheet. The
spreadsheet is displaying an error in cell F2 as shown below:

a)

The formula view for this spreadsheet can also be seen below

Produce a report for the finance department with the following sections;

Explain what you think may have caused the error in cell F2: The error in cell F2
is caused because the formula in F2 has brackets in it, as shown here E2*(A2-B2-C2)
which is causing the formula to show -2.77556E-17 as the total balance. But if you
type the formula without the brackets E2*A2-B2-C2 the remaining balance would
show 0 instead of -2.77556E-17. I went into excel and I remade the spreadsheet and
I experimented with the formulas to work out how the error happened in cell F2.

Describe the following three numeric computer storage issues;


o

Division by Zero Error: Division by zero error is an error that can occur in a
computer program when an attempt to divide by zero happens. Depending on
what program and what number for example floating point, and integer being
divided by zero, it can generate positive and negative infinite.

Arithmetic Overflow: Arithmetic Overflow is when a computer program


calculation produces a result that is bigger in value than the register or
storage location can store in memory. Arithmetic overflow is a reasonably
common cause of some software failures.

Arithmetic Underflow: Arithmetic Underflow is when a computer programs


calculation produces a result that is smaller in value than the register or
storage location can store in memory. Arithmetic underflow mostly happens
when the result of a floating point operation is smaller in value than the
smallest value shown as a negative overflow.
212

Words
3|Page

[Jamie Squires]

[Unit 18] [Computational

Assignment [L2S-U18_A1-CP]

Thinking]

b,) Complete the table below, showing how the following natural numbers can be
represented in computer memory. Include your working out on a separate sheet of
paper;

Decimal (Natural)

Binary

Hexadecimal

1000

16

10000

10

32

100000

20

48

110000

30

51

110011

33

63

111111

3F

4|Page
[Jamie Squires]

[Unit 18] [Computational

Assignment [L2S-U18_A1-CP]

Thinking]

Jamie Squires
Bibliography
P1:
Binary: http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/b/binary.htm
RGB: http://www.rapidtables.com/web/color/RGB_Color.htm
Hexadecimal: http://www.mathsisfun.com/hexadecimals.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexadecimal
Scientific Notation: http://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/scientificnotation.html
M1:
Arithmetic Underflow: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arithmetic_underflow
Arithmetic Overflow: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arithmetic_overflow
Division by zero error: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_by_zero

5|Page
[Jamie Squires]

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