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Learning objective

Recognize the units used to measure data storage, including bit, nibble, byte, kibibyte (KiB), mebibyte (MiB), gibibyte (GiB), tebibyte (TiB), pebibyte (PiB), and exbibyte (EiB), along with the number of smaller units contained in each, such as 8 bits in a byte and 1024 mebibytes in a gibibyte.

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Cambridge IGCSE Computer ScienceData representation

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Recognize the units used to measure data storage, including bit, nibble, byte, kibibyte (KiB), mebibyte (MiB), gibibyte (GiB), tebibyte (TiB), pebibyte (PiB), and exbibyte (EiB), along with the number of smaller units contained in each, such as 8 bits in a byte and 1024 mebibytes in a gibibyte

  • This point belongs to Data storage and compression, especially Data storage and compression outcomes.
  • You need to be able to recognize the units used to measure data storage, including bit, nibble, byte, kibibyte (KiB), mebibyte (MiB), gibibyte (GiB), tebibyte (TiB), pebibyte (PiB), and exbibyte (EiB), along with the number of smaller units contained in each, such as 8 bits in a byte and 1024 mebibytes in a gibibyte.
  • The key ideas to know are Understand.
  • Use the linked flashcards and practice questions to check recall, then practise applying the idea in an exam-style answer.

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This objective helps connect Data storage and compression outcomes to exam-style questions, flashcards, and revision notes for Data storage and compression.

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Paper 1 structured question: Data storage and compression

Paper 1Computer Systems1 marks

Description

Data Storage Units

Data storage is measured in bits, bytes, kibibytes, mebibytes, gibibytes, tebibytes, pebibytes, and exbibytes. Each unit is a multiple of the previous one, primarily based on powers of 2.

  1. a

    State the number of bits in a byte.

    Aim for approximately 1 distinct marking point.

    [1]
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