binary number system

• What is signed binary?

  Binary numbers represented using two's complement
• What is two's complement?

  The most significant bit is negative
• What is a fixed point number?

  Specific number of digits reserved for integer and fractional points
• What is a floating point number?

  No specific number of digits reserved
• What are the advantages of fixed point?

  Calculations are quicker
• What are the advantages of fixed point?

  Represents a greater range of numbers, can be more precise
• What is an absolute error?

  Difference in number being represented and the closest approximation to it
• What is a relative error?

  Absolute error divided by the number you are trying to represent in percentage format
• What is data normalisation?

  ensures that numbers are represented as precisely as possible
• What are the benefits of normalisation?

  ensures there is only one possible representation of numbers
• What should a normalised positive floating point number start with?

  0.1
• What should a normalised negative floating point number start with?

  1.0
• What is an underflow error?

  when the calculation is too small to be stored with the available number of bits
• What is an overflow error?

  when a calculation is too large to be stored with the available number of bits