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30 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Definition of a computer as per Wikipedia
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A computer is a programmable machine that receives input, stores and manipulates data/information, and provides output in a useful format.
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What is "Von Neumann Architecture"?
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A "stored-program concept": a design model for a stored-program digital computer that uses a central processing unit (CPU) and a single separate storage structure ("memory") to hold both instructions and data.
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What happens in the CPU if one wishes to add 5 and 7. Think about registers.
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We want to add 5 and 7. The CPU only does calculations on a small number of registers (fast hardware able to store a number). For 5+7, essentially a 5 will be first put into a register, say R0, and 7 will be put into another register, say R1. We then instruct the CPU to add R0 and R1.
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What ancient tool do some consider "an early computer".
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Some say the abacus is an early computer. Noteworthy: Charles Babbage theorized an “analytical engine”. Later, Luigui F. Menabrea published a paper in French describing Babbage’s vision of a machine capable of solving any problem using inputs, outputs and programs written on punch cards.
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The computer hardware is only able to execute machine codes. What are the important categories/layers of software?
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USER > APPLICATION > OPERATING SYSTEM > DEVICE DRIVER > BIOS > HARDWARE
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Briefly describe the functions of the operating system (OS)
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Managing the hardware, providing an interface between the user and the hardware. Utilities: printing files, copying files, etc.
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Briefly describe the functions of the application software
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Performing common operations. Examples: Word processors, database management software (DBMS), computer-aided design software (AutoCAD, Civil 3D, …), and games
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What are the 3 main computer "languages"?
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Machine code, assembly language, and high-level languages
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Briefly describe the machine code language
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A binary language -- an instruction consisting of a sequence of 0 and 1. It is tied to the computer’s hardware.
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Briefly describe the assembly language
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Also unique to a specific computer design, but its instructions are written in symbolic statements instead of binary.
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Briefly describe the high-level languages
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They have English-like commands and instructions.
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Describe the compiler
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A special program that translates a program written in a high-level language to machine codes.
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What are syntax errors?
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Program statements we made may be wrong, in the sense that they do not obey the high-level language syntax.
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What is the source file?
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The program we made.
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What is the object file?
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The machine language version of your source file.
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What are logic errors?
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Errors shown up when executing your program. They are also called run-time errors or program bugs.
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What is a "word" with relation to memory?
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A sequence of bits stored in memory representing binary numbers.
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What is the memory space (address space)?
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The number of words available in memory.
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What is a byte?
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A sequence of 8 bits.
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What are type declaration statements?
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Define identifiers and allocate memory. Ex.
int iValue = 2781; iValue => 00000000 | 00000000 | 00001010 | 11011101 |
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What are decimal numbers?
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Decimal numbers are of base 10.
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What are binary numbers?
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Binay numbers are of base 2.
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Are digital signals digital or analog?
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Digital signals are in fact analog. 0 and 1 are represented by voltage ranges.
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How does one convert a decimal number to a binary number?
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Ex. Convert 14 (decimal) to binary.
14/2 = 7 R 0 7/2 = 3 R 1 3/2 = 1 R 1 1/2 = 0 R 1 So the answer is 1110 |
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How does one convert a decimal number to an octal number?
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Ex. Convert 143 (decimal) to octal.
143/8 = 17 R 7 17/8 = 2 R 1 2/8 = 0 R 2 So the answer is 217 |
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How does one perform binary subtraction?
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Work the columns right to left subtracting in each column. If you must subtract a one from a zero, you need to “borrow” from the left, just as in decimal subtraction.
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Two's complement numbers are a way to encode negative numbers into ordinary binary, such that addition still works. How does one find the two's compliment?
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Invert all the bits and add 1. Shortcut: start at the least significant bit (LSB), and copy all the zeros (working from LSB toward the most significant bit) until the first 1 is reached; then copy that 1, and flip all the remaining bits. This shortcut allows a person to convert a number to its two's complement without first forming its ones' complement. Example: the two's complement of "0011 1100" is "1100 0100".
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How does one subtract using two's compliment?
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If you want to subtract a number, take the 2's complement and add it instead. To take the 2's complement, invert all the bits and add 1. For example, to do 5 (0101) minus 3 (0011), first compute -3 (1100 + 1 = 1101). Now add 5 + (-3):
0101 +1101 ===== 10010 Throw away the carry out and you're left with 0010, or 2. |
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What is the floating point data type?
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A floating point number, or real number, such as 12.2510, includes a decimal point. The fractional part of a decimal number can be converted to binary by repeatedly multiplying the fractional part by 2 and recording the carry bits until the fractional part becomes zero.
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What are the steps of "An Engineering Problem-Solving Methodology"?
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State the problem clearly.
Describe the input and output information of the problem. Work the problem by hand for a simple set of data. Develop a solution and convert it to a computer program. Test the solution with a variety of data. |
