Bit
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− | A '''bit''' is the rudimentary unit used in digital electronics. A bit is a binary (or base 2) amount which can either be assigned a value of 1 or 0. Typically in a [[computer]] bits are not addressed directly, rather they are grouped into 8 bit units called [[bytes]]. | + | A '''bit''' is the rudimentary unit used in digital electronics. A bit is a binary (or base 2) amount which can either be assigned a value of 1 or 0. Typically in a [[computer]] bits are not addressed directly, rather they are grouped into 8 bit units called [[byte|bytes]]. |
==Theory== | ==Theory== | ||
Any variable which has N distinct values can be represented by log<sub>2</sub>(N) bits. | Any variable which has N distinct values can be represented by log<sub>2</sub>(N) bits. |
Latest revision as of 19:39, 18 February 2007
A bit is the rudimentary unit used in digital electronics. A bit is a binary (or base 2) amount which can either be assigned a value of 1 or 0. Typically in a computer bits are not addressed directly, rather they are grouped into 8 bit units called bytes.
[edit] Theory
Any variable which has N distinct values can be represented by log2(N) bits.