PANIMALAR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPUTING & PROGRAMMING (COMMON TO ALL BRANCHES) PART A QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

UNIT I
1. Define Computer. A Computer is an electronic machine, devised for performing calculations and controlling operations that can be expressed either in logical or numerical terms. It consists of 3 major units. 1. Input Unit 2. Central Processing Unit and 3. Output Unit. 2. What are the basic operations performed by a computer? The basic operations of a computer are: i. Input ii. Output iii. Process iv. Storage v. Control 3. Write the characteristics of a computer. The Characteristics of a Computer are: i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. Speed Accuracy: . Diligence: . Storage Capability Versatility Resource Sharing

4. What are the basic components of a computer? The basic Components of a Computer are: 1. Input Unit 2. Central Processing Unit 3. Output Unit. 4. Memory

5. What are the different types of memory? The different types of memory in a computer are: Primary Memory: It is also knows as main memory. It stores data and instructions for processing. It can be classified as random access memory (RAM) and Read only memory (ROM). Secondary Memory: It is also known as auxiliary memory or external memory. It is used for storing software programs and data. It is less expensive and stores huge volume of data. 6. What are the various secondary storage devices? The various secondary storage devices are: i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. Hard Disk Pen Drive Memory Card CD-ROM Floppy Disk Magnetic tape.

7. State the different generation of computers. The different generations of computers are: i. ii. iii. iv. v. First Generation (1940 56) : Vacuum Tubes Second Generation Computers (1956 63): Transistors Third Generation Computers (1964 - Early 1970s): Integrated Circuits Fourth Generation Computers (Early 1970s till date): Microprocessors Fifth Generation Computers (Present and Beyond) : Artificial Intelligence The different application areas of Computer are: i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. Science Education: Medicine and Health Care Engineering/Architecture/Manufacturing Entertainment Communication Business Application

8. What are the applications of computers?

viii.

Publishing

9. State the classification of computers. Computers are classified into four different categories based on size, performance and application areas. They are: a. Micro computers b. Mini computers c. Mainframe computers d. Super computers Micro computers can be classified into three categories. They are: i. ii. iii. Desktop Computer Laptop Computer Hand-held computer

9. Draw the basic architecture of a computer. The basic architecture of a Computer is:

Central Processing Unit

Registers

Input Unit

Output Unit

Control Unit

ALU

Instruction Flow Data Flow

10. Determine the decimal equivalent of the hexadecimal number AC.C8. (Apr/MAY 2008)

(AC.C8)16 -> 10*161+12*160+12*16-1+8*16-2 -> (172.7813)10

11. Differentiate between ASCII 7 & ASCII 8. (Apr/MAY 2008) S.NO. ASCII -7 ASCII - 8 1 It is a 7-Bit Code It is a 8-bit code 2. It can represent 128 characters It can represent 256 characters 12. What are the tasks performed by the processor unit in a computer? (Nov/Dec 2007) The central processing unit is the heart of the computer system. All the operations are carried out by the processor unit. 2007) S.No 1. 2. 3. Super Computer Mainframe Computer It is the most powerful of all It is less powerful than super the computers It has more main memory computer. It has less main memory compared It performs all calculations. It takes all decisions. It controls all units of the computer.

13. What is the difference between Super Computer and Mainframe? (Nov/Dec

to super computer. CPU speed is 500 Million CPU speed is in the range of 5 to floating point operations per 100 million floating point second. Word length is 64 to 96 bits. operations per second. Word length is 32 to 64 bits.

4.

14. Find the decimal equivalent of the hexadecimal number 8C.A. (Nov/Dec 2006)

(8C.A)16 -> 8*161+12*160+10*16-1 -> (140.625)10

15. Multiply the binary numbers 011001 and 10011. (Nov/Dec 2006) 011001 X 10011 011001 011001 000000 000000 011001 0111011011

Ans: 0111011011
16. State the difference between ROM and RAM. S.NO 1. 2. 3. 4. ROM It is a non-volatile memory The contents are permanent Cost effective Processing speed is low RAM It is a volatile memory The contents are temporary Cost is high. Processing speed is high

17. Convert the binary number (10011.11001)2 to octal number. (10011.11001)2 -> 010 011 . 110 01

(23.61)8
18. Convert the Octal number (4056.1327)8 to Hexadecimal number. (4056.1327)8 -> 4 100 0 000 5 101 6 110 . . 1 001 3 011 2 7

010 111

1000 0010 1110. 0010 1101 0111

8 2 E . 2 D 7

Ans: (82E.2D7)16
19. Convert the octal number (127.46)8 to Decimal number.

(127.46)8 ->

1 * 82+2*81+7*80+4*8-1+6*8-2

64 + 16 + 7 + 0.5 + 0.093 (87.5939) 10

20. Convert the Binary Number (10001100110101.1101010)2 to Hexa decimal Number.

10 0011 0011 0101 . 1101 010 (Add 0s to the less no.of bits) 2 3 3 5 . D 2

Ans: (2335.D2)16