Exam-style question
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Explain why a communication system can have a bit rate greater than its baud rate. Include a numerical example and explain how bandwidth is related to bit rate.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Baud rate is the number of signal changes per second, whereas bit rate is the number of bits transmitted per second.
- If more than one bit is encoded in each signal change, the bit rate is greater than the baud rate.
- For example, a system operating at 3000 baud with two bits encoded in each signal change has a bit rate of 6000 bits per second.
- Bit rate is directly proportional to bandwidth, so increasing the bandwidth increases the bit rate, while reducing the bandwidth reduces the bit rate, assuming the other relevant conditions remain the same.
Explanation
Why this works
The response distinguishes the two measures, applies the relationship using a valid calculation, and states the required direct proportionality between bit rate and bandwidth.
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