Chapter 1: Introduction & Data Representation

Which pair lists the two fundamental requirements for a computer to operate?

• Peripherals and power

• Algorithms and storage media

• Instructions and data

• Users and applications

Which statement best characterizes RISC compared to CISC architectures?

• RISC increases microcode dependence

• RISC favors fewer simple instructions

• RISC eliminates registers entirely

• RISC uses many complex instructions

Moore's Law originally observed that transistor counts on integrated circuits tend to

• remain constant after fabrication

• increase linearly each year

• triple about every five years

• double roughly every two years

Which classification refers to computers by typical use rather than internal design?

• Application-based types

• Datapath organizations

• Clocking strategies

• Instruction set categories

Which data size is typically 8 bits in hardware terminology?

• Halfword

• Byte

• Word

• Doubleword

What is the hexadecimal representation of the binary value 1101 1010?

• 0xD9

• 0xBA

• 0xDA

• 0xCB

A 16-bit halfword can store how many distinct unsigned values?

Sign extension of a two's complement 8-bit number to 16 bits requires

• flipping all bits then adding one

• copying the sign bit into new high bits

• recomputing magnitude and sign

• padding with zeros on the left

Which representation distinguishes between negative and positive integers using two's complement?

• Unsigned integers

• ASCII text

• Floating point

• Signed integers

Convert the unsigned decimal 255 to hexadecimal.

• 0x1FF

• 0xF0

• 0x0F

• 0xFF