Mon, 5 Sep 2011, 18:40

Apparently, Labor Day weekend is over!  A student writes:

> I was wondering about number 5's conversions. Would you 
> just fill in the zeros to make it 8 bit for a b and d and 
> is c impossible to convert because 10 bit represents 1024 bits 
> and 8 can only represent 256? I've read the chapter and gone 
> to discussion and I'm a bit confused.
>
> <<name withheld to protect the student who is a bit confused>>

He has read the chapter and gone to discussion!  How can I refuse 
to try to help him.  I think a "hint" is in order:

Yes, 10 bits does provide the opportunity to represent 2^10 different
integers, but does every one of those 2^10 integers require all 10 bits.

For example, what does 0000000001 represent?  Can this also be represented
in fewer than 10 bits?

Good luck with Problem 5 and the rest of the problem set.  See you in class
on Wednesday.

Yale Patt