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Explains how digital systems such as the computer represent numbers. Covers the basics of boolean algebra and binary math.

Computer architecture

To understand digital signal processing systems, we must understand a little about how computers compute. The moderndefinition of a computer is an electronic device that performs calculations on data, presenting theresults to humans or other computers in a variety of (hopefully useful) ways.

Organization of a simple computer

Generic computer hardware organization.

The generic computer contains input devices (keyboard, mouse, A/D (analog-to-digital) converter, etc.), a computational unit , and output devices (monitors, printers, D/A converters). Thecomputational unit is the computer's heart, and usually consists of a central processing unit (CPU), a memory , and an input/output (I/O) interface. What I/O devices might be present on a givencomputer vary greatly.

  • A simple computer operates fundamentally in discrete time. Computers are clocked devices, in which computational steps occur periodically according to ticksof a clock. This description belies clock speed: When you say "I have a 1 GHz computer," you mean that your computertakes 1 nanosecond to perform each step. That is incredibly fast! A "step" does not, unfortunately,necessarily mean a computation like an addition; computers break such computations down into several stages, whichmeans that the clock speed need not express the computational speed. Computational speed is expressed inunits of millions of instructions/second (Mips). Your 1 GHz computer (clock speed) may have a computational speedof 200 Mips.
  • Computers perform integer (discrete-valued) computations. Computer calculations can be numeric (obeying the laws of arithmetic), logical (obeyingthe laws of an algebra), or symbolic (obeying any law you like). An example of a symbolic computation is sorting a list of names. Each computer instruction that performs an elementary numeric calculation --- an addition, a multiplication, or adivision --- does so only for integers. The sum or product of two integers is also an integer, but the quotient oftwo integers is likely to not be an integer. How does a computer deal with numbers that have digits to the rightof the decimal point? This problem is addressed by using the so-called floating-point representation of real numbers. At its heart, however, this representation relies on integer-valued computations.

Representing numbers

Focusing on numbers, all numbers can represented by the positional notation system . Alternative number representation systems exist. For example, we could use stick figure counting orRoman numerals. These were useful in ancient times, but very limiting when it comes to arithmetic calculations: ever triedto divide two Roman numerals? The b -ary positional representation system uses the position of digits ranging from0 to b -1 to denote a number. The quantity b is known as the base of the number system. Mathematically, positional systems represent the positiveinteger n as

d k d k 0 b 1 n k 0 d k b k
and we succinctly express n in base- b as n b d N d N 1 d 0 . The number 25 in base 10 equals 2 10 1 5 10 0 , so that the digits representing this number are d 0 5 , d 1 2 , and all other d k equal zero. This same number in binary (base 2) equals 11001( 1 2 4 1 2 3 0 2 2 0 2 1 1 2 0 )and 19 in hexadecimal (base 16). Fractions between zero and one are represented the same way.
d k d k 0 b 1 f k -1 d k b k
All numbers can be represented by their sign, integer and fractional parts. Complex numbers can be thought of as two real numbers that obey special rules to manipulate them.

Questions & Answers

how did you get 1640
Noor Reply
If auger is pair are the roots of equation x2+5x-3=0
Peter Reply
Wayne and Dennis like to ride the bike path from Riverside Park to the beach. Dennis’s speed is seven miles per hour faster than Wayne’s speed, so it takes Wayne 2 hours to ride to the beach while it takes Dennis 1.5 hours for the ride. Find the speed of both bikers.
MATTHEW Reply
420
Sharon
from theory: distance [miles] = speed [mph] × time [hours] info #1 speed_Dennis × 1.5 = speed_Wayne × 2 => speed_Wayne = 0.75 × speed_Dennis (i) info #2 speed_Dennis = speed_Wayne + 7 [mph] (ii) use (i) in (ii) => [...] speed_Dennis = 28 mph speed_Wayne = 21 mph
George
Let W be Wayne's speed in miles per hour and D be Dennis's speed in miles per hour. We know that W + 7 = D and W * 2 = D * 1.5. Substituting the first equation into the second: W * 2 = (W + 7) * 1.5 W * 2 = W * 1.5 + 7 * 1.5 0.5 * W = 7 * 1.5 W = 7 * 3 or 21 W is 21 D = W + 7 D = 21 + 7 D = 28
Salma
Devon is 32 32​​ years older than his son, Milan. The sum of both their ages is 54 54​. Using the variables d d​ and m m​ to represent the ages of Devon and Milan, respectively, write a system of equations to describe this situation. Enter the equations below, separated by a comma.
Aaron Reply
find product (-6m+6) ( 3m²+4m-3)
SIMRAN Reply
-42m²+60m-18
Salma
what is the solution
bill
how did you arrive at this answer?
bill
-24m+3+3mÁ^2
Susan
i really want to learn
Amira
I only got 42 the rest i don't know how to solve it. Please i need help from anyone to help me improve my solving mathematics please
Amira
Hw did u arrive to this answer.
Aphelele
hi
Bajemah
-6m(3mA²+4m-3)+6(3mA²+4m-3) =-18m²A²-24m²+18m+18mA²+24m-18 Rearrange like items -18m²A²-24m²+42m+18A²-18
Salma
complete the table of valuesfor each given equatio then graph. 1.x+2y=3
Jovelyn Reply
x=3-2y
Salma
y=x+3/2
Salma
Hi
Enock
given that (7x-5):(2+4x)=8:7find the value of x
Nandala
3x-12y=18
Kelvin
please why isn't that the 0is in ten thousand place
Grace Reply
please why is it that the 0is in the place of ten thousand
Grace
Send the example to me here and let me see
Stephen
A meditation garden is in the shape of a right triangle, with one leg 7 feet. The length of the hypotenuse is one more than the length of one of the other legs. Find the lengths of the hypotenuse and the other leg
Marry Reply
how far
Abubakar
cool u
Enock
state in which quadrant or on which axis each of the following angles given measure. in standard position would lie 89°
Abegail Reply
hello
BenJay
hi
Method
I am eliacin, I need your help in maths
Rood
how can I help
Sir
hmm can we speak here?
Amoon
however, may I ask you some questions about Algarba?
Amoon
hi
Enock
what the last part of the problem mean?
Roger
The Jones family took a 15 mile canoe ride down the Indian River in three hours. After lunch, the return trip back up the river took five hours. Find the rate, in mph, of the canoe in still water and the rate of the current.
cameron Reply
Shakir works at a computer store. His weekly pay will be either a fixed amount, $925, or $500 plus 12% of his total sales. How much should his total sales be for his variable pay option to exceed the fixed amount of $925.
mahnoor Reply
I'm guessing, but it's somewhere around $4335.00 I think
Lewis
12% of sales will need to exceed 925 - 500, or 425 to exceed fixed amount option. What amount of sales does that equal? 425 ÷ (12÷100) = 3541.67. So the answer is sales greater than 3541.67. Check: Sales = 3542 Commission 12%=425.04 Pay = 500 + 425.04 = 925.04. 925.04 > 925.00
Munster
difference between rational and irrational numbers
Arundhati Reply
When traveling to Great Britain, Bethany exchanged $602 US dollars into £515 British pounds. How many pounds did she receive for each US dollar?
Jakoiya Reply
how to reduced echelon form
Solomon Reply
Jazmine trained for 3 hours on Saturday. She ran 8 miles and then biked 24 miles. Her biking speed is 4 mph faster than her running speed. What is her running speed?
Zack Reply
d=r×t the equation would be 8/r+24/r+4=3 worked out
Sheirtina
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Source:  OpenStax, Fundamentals of electrical engineering i. OpenStax CNX. Aug 06, 2008 Download for free at http://legacy.cnx.org/content/col10040/1.9
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