How many bits do we need to represent a variable that can only take on the values 11, 22, 33, or 44?
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Counting
Bit strings can be used to represent more than just numbers. In fact, we use bit strings to represent everything inside a computer. And, because we don’t want to be wasteful with bits, it is important to remember that n bits can be used to represent 2n distinct numbers. For each of the following questions, answer with the minimum number of bits possible:
3.1 Exercises
- (5 pts) How many bits do we need to represent a variable that can only take on the values 11, 22, 33, or 44?
- (5 pts) If the only value a variable can take on is 32.16, how many bits are needed to represent it?
- (5 pts) If we need to address 4 Mi-Byte of memory and we want to address every byte of memory, how long does an address need to be?
