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
I ntroduction to Computing – “Assignment # ”
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Answer heet S
QUESTION 1
Study the computer advertisement and analyze its specifications carefully and answer the questions
below:

A
nswer:

A. Processor Speed 466 MHz

B. Processor Model Celeron
C. Processor Manufacturer Intel
D. Sound Card Manufacturer Creative Labs
E. Graphics Card Slot Type AGP (assumed based on 4MB 3-D AGP card)
F. Video Memory 4MB
G. Actual Screen Image Size 13.9 inches (visible)
H. RAM Capacity 64 MB
I. Type of RAM SD RAM
J. Operating System Windows 98

K. Is it possible to install Windows 7, Windows 8 or 10 to this Computer? Yes/No; explain your answer
consider system memory for compatibility.

This computer is not compatible to install Windows 7, 8 and 10 because;

This computer has 64 MB of RAM, which means the requirements needed for this installation is lower
than the minimum system requirements for Windows 7, 8, and 10. These operating systems (Windows
7, 8 and 10) normally require at least 1 GB of RAM for its basic functionality. Even if you could install
them, the performance would be very slow due to the low RAM.

Name: MacHale Taloifaga Class: NCIT

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QUESTION 2
Define and explain in detail the two terms below. And state their functions and provide two (2) examples
of each.
A) OPERATING SYSTEM (OS)
B) NETWORK OPERATING SYSTEM (NOS)

A
nswer:

Operating System (OS)

Think of an operating system as the brain of your computer. It's the software that manages all the
hardware and software on your computer. It's like a traffic cop, making sure everything runs smoothly.

Functions of an OS:

 Manages hardware: It controls things like your keyboard, mouse, monitor, and hard drive.
 Runs software: It allows you to use programs like word processors, games, and web browsers.
 Provides a user interface: This is the screen you see where you interact with the computer.
 Manages files: It helps you organize and find your files.

Examples of Operating Systems:

 Windows: This is the most common OS for personal computers.

 Mac OS: Used by Apple computers.

Network Operating System (NOS)

A network operating system is like a traffic controller for a group of computers. It manages the
communication between computers in a network, allowing them to share files, printers, and other
resources.

Functions of a NOS:
 Connects computers: It links multiple computers together to form a network.
 Shares resources: Lets computers share files, printers, and other hardware.
 Manages network security: Protects the network from unauthorized access.
 Provides network services: Offers services like email, file sharing, and printing.

Examples of Network Operating Systems:

 Windows Server: Used in many businesses and organizations.

 Linux: A popular open-source option for servers.

In Summary:
An operating system is in charge of a single computer, while a network operating system manages a
group of computers. Both are important for everyday modern computing.

Name: MacHale Taloifaga Class: NCIT

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QUESTION 3
Explain the difference between Wide Area Network (WAN) and Local Area Network (LAN) and illustrate
the differences with a clear diagram of the network types.

A
nswer:

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN connects devices within a small geographical area, like a home, office, or school.
Think of it as a network for people in the same building or campus.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN connects devices over a large geographical area, like cities, states, or even countries.
It's like connecting different buildings or locations together. The internet is a massive WAN.

Key differences:
Size: LANs are smaller, while WANs cover larger distances.
Speed: LANs are generally faster than WANs.
Ownership: LANs are often privately owned, while WANs can be public or private.
Cost: LANs are typically cheaper to set up and maintain than WANs.

In summary:
 A LAN is a network within a small area.
 A WAN is a network that covers a large geographical area.

Name: MacHale Taloifaga Class: NCIT

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QUESTION 4
Write the different types of transmission media and explain them all with appropriate properties and
diagrams.

A
nswer:

In short Transmission Media is the pathways for Data. It’s like the road for Data to travel from one
device to another. There are two main types:

1. Guided Media - uses physical wires or cables to transmit data

2. Unguided Media - uses air or space to transmit data (wireless)

Below is a table of the two different types of transmission media and its properties

Guided Media What is it? Properties

Twisted Pair Cable Ordinary phone wire, often  Looks like a regular phone cord.
twisted to reduce  Cheap and easy to install.
interference.  Susceptible to interference.
 Used for short distances like home and office
networks.
Coaxial Cable Used for cable TV, has a  Has a central conductor surrounded by insulation and
central wire surrounded by a shield.
insulation.  Less susceptible to interference than twisted pair.
 Used for cable TV and internet connections.
Fiber Optic Cable Uses light to transmit data,  Uses light to transmit data.
very fast and secure  Very fast and can carry lots of data.
 Immune to electromagnetic interference.
 Expensive to install and maintain.
Unguided Media
Radio Waves Used for Wi-Fi, radio, and  Used for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and radio broadcasting.
TV broadcasts.  Can be easily intercepted.
 Affected by obstacles.
Microwaves High-frequency radio  High-frequency radio waves.
waves used for satellites  Used for satellite communication and cellular
and cell phones. networks.
 Requires antennas.
Infrared Used for short-range  Used for short-range communication like remote
communication like controls.
remote controls.  Easily blocked by obstacles.

Name: MacHale Taloifaga Class: NCIT

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QUESTION 5
System Memory is sometimes called volatile memory. Distinguish the difference between volatile memory
and non-volatile memory and also state the main functions performed by each memory type and provide
example for each.

A
nswer:

Volatile memory:
Is like a temporary workspace where your computer does quick calculations and stores information it's
currently using. Once you turn off the computer, everything in this workspace is erased.
 Main Functions:
o Temporary storage for data and programs currently being used by the CPU.
o Provides fast access to data for rapid processing.
 Example:
RAM (Random Access Memory)

Non-volatile memory:
Is like a permanent storage place where your computer keeps all your files and programs safe even
when it's turned off. It's like a filing cabinet for your computer storing information and data for
extended periods of time.
 Main Functions:
o Long-term storage of data and programs.
o Stores the operating system and application software.
 Example:
ROM (Read Only Memory), HHD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive)

Name: MacHale Taloifaga Class: NCIT

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QUESTION 6
Convert the following decimal number and strings of characters to their Binary equivalences.
a) 80, 197, 240

A
nswer for 80:

Calculation:
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0

64 + 16
= 80

Therefore, the binary equivalences for 80 is 1010000

A
nswer for 197:

Calculation:
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1

128 + 64 + 4 + 1
= 197

Therefore, the binary equivalences for 197 is 11000101

A
nswer for 240:

Calculation:
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

128 + 64 + 32 + 16
= 240

Therefore, the binary equivalences for 240 is 11110000

Name: MacHale Taloifaga Class: NCIT

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b) Baby RAT

A
nswer:

B = 66 (ASCII code) = 01000010

a = 97 (ASCII code) = 01100001
b = 98 (ASCII code) = 01100010
y = 121 (ASCII code) = 01111001

So, “Baby” in Binary is: 01000010 01100001 01100010 01111001

R = 82 (ASCII code) = 01010010

A = 65 (ASCII code) = 01000001
T = 84 (ASCII code) = 01010100

So, “RAT” in Binary is: 01010010 01000001 01010100

Therefore the Binary for “Baby RAT” is:

01000010 01100001 01100010 01111001 01010010 01000001 01010100

Note: we did not include the Binary for “space” which is 00100000 and has a decimal value of 32.
If space is included to represent the Binary for “Baby RAT”, it would look as shown below:

01000010 01100001 01100010 01111001 00100000 01010010 01000001 01010100

Name: MacHale Taloifaga Class: NCIT

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QUESTION 7
Convert the following Binary numbers to their decimal equivalences.
a) 10110111, 10110
b) 11001010, 101001

A
nswer (a):

Calculation
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1
1 + 2 + 4 + 16 + 32 + 128
= 183
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
1 0 1 1 0
2 + 4 + 16
= 22

Therefore, 10110111 in decimal is 183, and 10110 in decimal is 22.

A
nswer (b):

Calculation
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
2 + 8 + 64 + 128
= 202
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
1 0 1 0 0 1
1 + 8 + 32
= 41
Therefore, 11001010 in decimal is 202, 101001 in decimal is 41.

Name: MacHale Taloifaga Class: NCIT

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QUESTION 8
Mr. Wapu Song is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kumul Consolidated Limited (KCHL) and he
has filled up (15) pages documents containing 11250 words to his board members to renew their three (3)
years term which has due last year 2019. Answer the questions that follow:

a) How many characters are there in the 15 pages document by Mr. Wapu Sonk?

A
nswer (a):

The number of characters per word varies as some words are long and has more characters than
others and some words are short.
An Average word length is estimated to be between 5 and 6.5 characters.
We can than calculate the word range from that average numbers to give us the total estimated
characters in Mr. Wapu Song’s 15 pages Document, which contains 11250 words.

Calculation for the estimated Average of 5 Characters per word.

1 word = 5 character
11250 words we multiple by 5 characters.
11250 words × 5 characters/1 word = 56,250 characters

Calculation for the estimated Average of 6.5 Characters per word.

1 word = 6.5 character
11250 words we multiple by 6.5 characters.
11250 × 6.5 characters/1 word = 73,125 characters

In Summary:
The estimated number of characters in Mr. Wapu Song’s 15page document is between 56,250
Characters to 73,125 characters. Or we can than further calculate the average between 56,250 to 73,125

Here's the calculation:

56,250 + 73,125 = 129,375

129,375 ÷ 2 = 64,687.5
Therefore, the average between 56,250 and 73,125 is 64,687.5 Characters

b) How many kilobytes is that?

A
nswer (b):

Calculation
By using the ASCII Encoding we know that:

Name: MacHale Taloifaga Class: NCIT

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8bits = 1 Character
64,687.5 Characters × 8bits = 517,500 bits (Characters to Bits)
517,500 bits ÷ 8 bits/1 bytes = 64,687.5 bytes (Bits to Bytes)
64,687.5 bytes ÷ 1024 bytes/ 1 Kilobytes = 63.171 Kilobytes (Bytes to Kilobytes)

In Summary:

Therefore, 64,687.5 Characters is approximately 63.171 in kilobytes

c) How many megabytes is that?

nswer (c):

A
Calculation
63.171 Kilobytes ÷ 1024 kilobytes/1 Megabytes = 0.617 Megabytes (Round off)

In Summary:

Therefore the answer is rounded up to approximately 0.617 Megabytes

d) How many nibble is the fifteen (15) pages document contained?

A
nswer (d):

Calculation
64,687.5 × 8bits/1character = 517,500 bits
517,500 bits ÷ 4 bits/1 nibble = 129,375 nibbles

In Summary:

There are 129,375 nibbles in the 15 page document.

e) If the whole document occupies 17.5 megabytes on the disk;

i. How many kilobytes is that?

A
nswer (e)-i:

Calculation
To convert 17.5 Megabytes to Kilobytes, we multiply by 1024:
17.5 MB × 1024 KB/ 1MB = 17920 KB

Name: MacHale Taloifaga Class: NCIT

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In Summary:
Therefore, 17.5 megabytes is equal to 17,920 kilobytes.
ii. How many gigabytes is that?

A
nswer (e)-ii

Calculation
To convert 17.5 Megabytes to Gigabytes, we divide by 1024:
17.5 MB ÷ 1024 MB/1GB = 0.01708984375 GB

In Summary:

Therefore, 17.5 megabytes is equal to approximately 0.0171 gigabytes (rounded up).

Total Marks: /

Name: MacHale Taloifaga Class: NCIT