ENGGCOMPSCI: COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS & PROGRAMMING 1

INTRODUCTION TO
COMPUTER & COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS

Computer

 Is an advanced electronic device that takes raw data as input from the user and processes
these data under the control of set of instructions and gives the result and save the output for
the future use.

Functionalities of a computer

Any digital computer carries out four functions in gross terms:

1. Takes data as input

2. Process data and convert them into useful information
3. Generates the output
4. Stores data / instructions in its memory and use them when required

Computer Components

Any kind of computers consists of HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE.

1. Hardware: Computer hardware is the collection of physical elements that constitutes a

computer system. Computer hardware refers to the physical parts or components of a
computer such as the monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer data storage, hard drive disk
(HDD), system unit (graphic cards, sound cards, memory, motherboard and chips), etc. all of
which are physical objects that can be touched

a. Input Devices- Input device is any peripheral (piece of computer hardware equipment to
provide data and control signals to an information processing system such as a computer
or other information appliance. Input device Translate data from form that humans
understand to one that the computer can work with
b. Central Processing Unit (CPU) -A CPU is brain of a computer. It is responsible for all functions
and processes. Regarding computing power, the CPU is the most important element of a
computer system. The CPU is comprised of three main parts :
b.1. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): Executes all arithmetic and logical operations.
Arithmetic calculations like as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Logical
operation like compare numbers, letters, or special characters
b.2. Control Unit (CU): controls and co-ordinates computer components.
1. Read the code for the next instruction to be executed.
2. Increment the program counter so it points to the next instruction.
3. Read whatever data the instruction requires from cells in memory.
4. Provide the necessary data to an ALU or register.
5. If the instruction requires an ALU or specialized hardware to complete, instruct
the hardware to perform the requested operation.

b.3. Registers: Stores the data that is to be executed next, "very fast storage area".

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b.3.1. Primary Memory:

I.RAM: Random Access Memory - is a memory scheme within the computer

system responsible for storing data on a temporary basis, so that it can be promptly
accessed by the processor as and when needed.

II. ROM: Read Only Memory - ROM is a permanent form of storage. ROM stays
active regardless of whether power supply to it is turned on or off. ROM devices do not
allow data stored on them to be modified.

b.3.2. Secondary Memory- Stores data and programs permanently. It is retained after
the power is turned off

I. Hard drive (HD): A hard disk is part of a unit, often called a "disk drive," "hard
drive," or "hard disk drive," that store and provides relatively quick access to large
amounts of data on an electromagnetically charged surface or set of surfaces.

II. Optical Disk: an optical disc drive (ODD) is a disk drive that uses laser light as
part of the process of reading or writing data to or from optical discs.

II. Flash Disk- A storage module made of flash memory chips. A Flash disks have
no mechanical platters or access arms, but the term "disk" is used because the data are
accessed as if they were on a hard drive. The disk storage structure is emulated.

c. Output devices -An output device is any piece of computer hardware equipment used to
communicate the results of data processing carried out by an information processing
system (such as a computer) which converts the electronically generated information into
human readable form

2. Software: Software is a generic term for organized collections of computer data and
instructions, often broken into two major categories: system software that provides the basic
non task-specific functions of the computer, and application software which is used by users
to accomplish specific tasks.

Software Types
A. System software is responsible for controlling, integrating, and managing the individual
hardware components of a computer system so that other software and the users of the
system see it as a functional unit without having to be concerned with the low-level details
such as transferring data from memory to disk, or rendering text onto a display.
B. Application software is used to accomplish specific tasks other than just running the
computer system. Application software may consist of a single program, such as an image
viewer; a small collection of programs (often called a software package) that work closely
together to accomplish a task, such as a spreadsheet or text processing system; a larger
collection (often called a software suite) of related but independent programs and packages
that have a common user interface or shared data format.

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UNIT OF MEASUREMENTS

Storage measurements: The basic unit used in computer data storage is called a bit (binary digit).
Computers use these little bits, which are composed of ones and zeros, to do things and talk to other
computers. All your files, for instance, are kept in the computer as binary files and translated into
words and pictures by the software (which is also ones and zeros). This two number system, is called a
“binary number system” since it has only two numbers in it. The decimal number system in contrast
has ten unique digits, zero through nine.

Characteristics of Computer
Speed, accuracy, diligence, storage capability and versatility are some of the key characteristics of
a computer. A brief overview of these characteristics is:
o Speed: The computer can process data very fast, at the rate of millions of instructions per
second. Some calculations that would have taken hours and days to complete otherwise, can
be completed in a few seconds using the computer. For example, calculation and generation
of salary slips of thousands of employees of an organization, weather forecasting that requires
analysis of a large amount of data related to temperature, pressure and humidity of various
places, etc.
o Accuracy: Computer provides a high degree of accuracy. For example, the computer can
accurately give the result of division of any two numbers up to 10 decimal places.
o Diligence: When used for a longer period of time, the computer does not get tired or fatigued.
It can perform long and complex calculations with the same speed and accuracy from the
start till the end.
o Storage Capability: Large volumes of data and information can be stored in the computer
and also retrieved whenever required. A limited amount of data can be stored, temporarily, in
the primary memory. Secondary storage devices like floppy disk and compact disk can store
a large amount of data permanently.
o Versatility: Computer is versatile in nature. It can perform different types of tasks with the same
ease. At one moment you can use the computer to prepare a letter document and in the
next moment you may play music or print a document. Computers have several limitations
too. Computer can only perform tasks that it has been programmed to do.

NUMBER SYSTEM AND DATA REPRESENTATION

The information within our computer is represented in the form of Binary Digit popularly known
called BIT.

THE NUMBER SYSTEM

DECIMAL NUMBERS- Decimal number system has ten digits range from 0-9. Any decimal number can
be represented as a string of these digits since there is ten decimal digits, therefore the base or radix
of this system is 10.

BINARY NUMBERS- In binary numbers we have two digits 0 and 1 and they can also be represented as
a string of theses two-digit called bits. The base of binary number system is 2.

OCTAL NUMBERS- an octal system has eight-digit ranges from 0-7. Thus the base number is 8.

HEXADECIMAL NUMBERS- The hexadecimal number system has 16 digits range from 0-9 and A-F. Thus
10 is A; 11 is B; 12 is C; 13 is D; 14 is E; 15 is F
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. The base is 16.

NUMBER SYSTEM CONVERSION

DECIMAL TO BINARY

 Dividing each new quotient by 2 and writing the remainders to the right of each dividend.
Stop when the quotient is 1.
 Write the answer from the bottom to top
 In case decimal point, the fractional part is multiplied by 2, then you will stop if the
multiplicand is less than point one (.1)

Example: 78.2510 = 1001110.012

2│78 = 39 rem 0
2│39 = 19.5 0.5*2 rem 1
2│19 = 9.5 0.5*2 rem 1
2│ 9 = 4.5 0.5*2 rem 1
2│ 4 = 2 rem 0
2│ 2 = 1 rem 0
1 rem 1

.25
.25*2 = 0.5
.5*2 =1.0 Therefore, 78.2510 = 1001110.012

BINARY TO DECIMAL

 Multiply the binary numbers by two (2) raise from zero (0) to nth power.
 Start to multiply from right to left.
 Then get the sum
 For integers with decimal point, start from the left to right.
 Multiply by 2 raise from -1 to –n
 Then get the sum

Example: 1011011.0112= 91.37510

1*20 = 1 (rule algebra, any number raise to zero is equal to 1)
1*21= 2
0*22= 0
1*23= 8
1*24= 16
0*25= 0
1*26= 64
Sum of Integer: 91

0* 2-1 = 0

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1*2-2 = 0.25
1*2-3 = 0.125
Sum of the decimal part: 0.375 1011011.0112= 91.37510

DECIMAL TO OCTAL

 Dividing each new quotient by 8 and writing the remainders to the right of each dividend.
Stop when the quotient is less than 8.
 Write the answer from the bottom to top.
 In case decimal point, the fractional part is multiplied by 8, then you will stop if the
multiplicand is less than point one (.1)

Example: 145.25310 = 221.28

8 | 145 = 18.125 0.125*8 = rem 1

8 | 18 = 2.25 0.25*8 = rem 2
2 rem 2

0.253

0.253*8 = 2.024 rem 2

*stop here since 0.024 is less than 0.1.

OCTAL TO DECIMAL

 Multiply the binary numbers by 8 raise from zero (0) to nth power.
 Start to multiply from right to left.
 Then get the sum
 For integers with decimal point, start from the left to right.
 Multiply by 8 raise from -1 to –n
 Then get the sum

Example:

Convert 345.2468 to a decimal number.

5 x 80 = 5
4 x 81 = 32
3 x 82 = 192
Sum = 192 + 32 + 1 = 229

2 x 8-1 = 0.25
4 x 8-2 = 0.0625
6 x 8-3 = 0.01171875
Sum = 0.32421875 therefore, 345.2468 = 229.3242187510

DECIMAL TO HEXADECIMAL

 Dividing each new quotient by 16 and writing the remainders to the right of each dividend.
Stop when the quotient is less than 16.
 Write the answer from the bottom to top.
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 In case decimal point, the fractional part is multiplied by 16, then you will stop if the
multiplicand is less than point one (.1)

Example: 1628.27510 = 65C.466616

16 | 1628 = 101.75  0.75*16 = remainder 12

16 | 101 = 6.3125  0.3125*16 = remainder 5

6 remainder 6

0.275*16 = 4.4
0.4*16 = 6.4
0.4*16 = 6.4
0.4*16 = 6.4  you can already stop at this point since the product/remainder remains the same.
Therefore, 1628.7510 = 65C.466616

HEXADECIMAL TO DECIMAL

 Multiply the binary numbers by 16 raise from zero (0) to nth power.
 Start to multiply from right to left.
 Then get the sum
 For integers with decimal point, start from the left to right.
 Multiply by 16 raise from -1 to –n
 Then get the sum

Example: 27FA.B2116 to decimal

A= 10 x 160 = 10
F= 15 x 161 = 240
7 x 162 = 1792
2 x 163 = 8192
Sum = 10234

B= 11 x 16-1 = 0.6875
2 x 16-2 = 0.0078125
1 x 16-3 = 0.000244140625
Sum = 0.695556640625 Therefore, 27FA.B2116 = 10234.6955510

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Seatwork No. 1 (5 points each)

1. Decimal to Hexadecimal 123.12510

2. Decimal to Octal 325.62510
3. Binary to Decimal 110110101.010112
4. Octal to Decimal 105436.048
5. Hexadecimal to Decimal 25FAB.1216

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