Past Paper Questions

Section 1.1 (Number Systems)

May/June 2023 (0478/11)
1. Binary is a number system used by computers.
(a) Tick () one box to show which statement about the binary number system is correct.

A It is a base 1 system

B It is a base 2 system

C It is a base 10 system

D It is a base 16 system [1]

(b) Denary numbers are converted to binary numbers to be processed by a computer.

Convert these three denary numbers to 8-bit binary numbers.
50 ...................................................................................................................
102 ...................................................................................................................
221 ................................................................................................................ [3]
Working space
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c) Binary numbers are stored in registers.
Negative denary numbers can be represented as binary using two’s complement.
Complete the binary register for the denary number –78
You must show all your working.
Working space
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Register:
[2]
(d) Two 8-bit binary numbers are given.
Add the two 8-bit binary numbers using binary addition.
Give your answer in binary. Show all your working.
0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1
+ 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1

[3]

(e) Two binary numbers are added by a computer and an overflow error occurs.
Explain why the overflow error occurred.
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May/June 2023 (0478/12)

2 Binary numbers can be converted to hexadecimal.
(a) Convert the two binary numbers to hexadecimal.
10010011 .....................................................................................................................
00001101 ................................................................................................................ [4]
Working space
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(b) A value is stored as a binary number in a register.

A value is stored as a binary number in a register.

01111010
A logical right shift of three places is performed on the binary number.
(i) Complete the binary register to show its contents after this logical right shift.

[1]

(ii) State one effect this logical shift has on the binary number.
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(c) Give two reasons why a programmer may use hexadecimal to represent binary numbers.
1.......................................................................................................................................................
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2......................................................................................................................................................
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(d) Denary numbers can also be converted to hexadecimal.
Convert the denary number to hexadecimal.
301……...................................................................................................................................... [2]
Working space
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May/June 2023 (0478/13)

1 Computers store data as binary. The binary number 10101110 is stored.
(a) Convert the binary number to denary.
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Working space
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(b) Convert the binary number to hexadecimal.
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Working space
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(c) A logical left shift of three places is performed on the binary number.
(i) Give the 8-bit binary number that would be stored after this logical left shift.
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(ii) Tick () one box to show which statement is true about the impact the logical left binary shift
would have on the binary number.
A The least significant bits are lost
B The most significant bits are lost
C The number has been divided by six.
D The number stays the same.
 [1]

(d) Add the two 8-bit binary numbers 11101110 and 00110001 using binary addition.
Give your answer in binary. Show all your working.
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(e) The denary number 301 needs to be stored.
Calculate the least number of bits that can be used to store the denary number 301.
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Working space
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(f) The hexadecimal number A4D needs to be stored.
Calculate the least number of bits that can be used to store the hexadecimal number A4D.
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Working space
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 Oct/Nov 2023 (0478/11)
2 A car park has a payment machine that allows a customer to pay for their parking.
The cost of parking is displayed as a denary number on a screen on the payment machine.
The cost of parking is stored in two 8-bit binary registers.
For the parking cost of $10.50:
 Register 1 stores the denary value 10 as binary
 Register 2 stores the denary value 50 as binary.
(a) Give the parking cost that would be displayed on the payment machine when the registers store:
Register 1: 00010001
Register 2: 01000110
Parking cost displayed $ ……….................................................................................... [2]
Working space
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(b) The parking cost of $14.98 is displayed on the payment machine.

Give the 8-bit binary numbers that are stored in the registers to display the parking cost.
Register 1 ................................................................................................................................
Register 2 ............................................................................................................................ [2]
Working space
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(c) The payment machine gives the customer a ticket when they have paid their parking cost. Each
ticket has a 4-digit hexadecimal ticket number that is stored as binary.
The binary number 1010000000111101 is stored for a customer’s ticket number.
Give the hexadecimal ticket number that would be displayed on this customer’s ticket.
Hexadecimal ticket number……................................................................................................. [4]
Working space
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(d) Explain why data input into the payment machine needs to be converted to binary.
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Oct/Nov 2023 (0478/12)

2 A register stores the binary number:
11100011
(a) Give the denary number for the binary number stored in the register.
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Working space
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(b) Give the hexadecimal number for the binary number stored in the register.
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Working space
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(c) A logical left shift of two places is performed on the binary number stored in the register.
Complete the binary register to show its contents after this logical left shift.

[1]

(d) The negative denary number −99 needs to be stored in the register.
Complete the register to show the binary number that would be stored, using two’s complement. Show all
your working.
Working space ..........................................................................................................................
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Register

[2]

(e) The number 01001100 is added to 11100011

 Add the two 8-bit binary numbers, using binary addition.
Give your answer in binary. Show all your working.
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Oct/Nov 2023 (0478/13)

2 Humans use a denary number system and computers use a binary number system.
(a) Explain what is meant by a binary number system.
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(b) Convert the denary numbers 14, 59 and 234 to binary.

14.............................................................................................................................................
59.............................................................................................................................................
234........................................................................................................................................ [3]
Working space
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(c) Convert the denary numbers 9, 26 and 65 to hexadecimal.
9 ...............................................................................................................................................
26 .............................................................................................................................................
65 ............................................................................................................................................ [3]
Working space
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(d) Convert the positive denary number 123 to 8-bit binary using two’s complement.
 Show all your working.
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(e) Add the binary values 00110011 and 01111000 using binary addition.
Give your answer in binary. Show all your working.
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