AP Computer Science Unit 1 Study Guide

Computers use 4 bits to represent decimal numbers in binary. What is the SMALLEST number for which an overflow error occurs?

17

How many total numbers can be represented with an 8-bit binary system?

256 total numbers can be represented

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. You could use lossy compression when trying to send an abbreviated text to someone. Benefits of Lossy Compression are that this saves time, and it also saves storage and space up on the device you are completing the compression on. (Bits are being thrown out, lossy compression compress the file more, higher compression rate)

Lossless Compression

A process of reducing the number of bits needed to represent something without losing any information. This process is reversible. You would use this compression if you were sending someone an important email, that you needed to say exactly what you had originally typed, it will be shared the exact same way and nothing will be lost. The benefits to this compression is that nothing is changed or formatted differently to meet the device's needs; everything is exactly how you wanted it. (Does Not compress the file as much)

How do computers represent complex information? (explain what abstractions are)

Abstractions manage complexity, the way they do that is to allow us to only worry about the top layer and nothing below it. For example, we only see a picture on a screen, but under that is pixels, and binary numbers, and bits, etc.

How do computing devices represent information?

Computing devices represent information through binary numbers and bits. A bit is a Binary Digit, one single unit of information in a computer represented as a 1 or 0. A Binary Number is a base 2 unit with two possible different digits.

What is the bonus of using creative commons in terms of intellectual property?

Creative commons allows you to dictate how your work is used, you can use it for personal use but not corporate use, and it can be freely distributed.

Overflow Error

Error from attempting to represent a number that is too large

How is an actual painting different from how a photo is stored on a smartphone?

In an actual painting, you can see all of the layers and colors on the canvas, the photo stored on a smartphone is a digital representation of the picture.

When is it okay to use another person's work?

It is okay to use someone else's work when credit is given. You may have to pay the artist or owner, for use of this work, or state somewhere that this is not personally or legally your in your possession.