First Test

This week was the week where we would have our midterm midterm test.

Before we got into the test however, we had out next lecture of the week that we might possibly look forward to in the next test.

This week, we continued our work with binaural numbers and worked on a new subject that looks at computer characters, images and sounds, as well as encryption in a computer. In the binaural case, we continued to use arithmetic with the numbers at the base of 2 with multiplication, which, again, was completely different compared to how we do it with number at the base of ten. The rules of multiplying them are similar to the common multiplying we know, but the only difference here is that we include additional operations to the equation.
We also learned that binaural numbers can be negative numbers and fractions. In terms of fractions, we can change the binary number by shifting it to the right past the binary point and reduce it b 1/2. Negative numbers can be expressed using a scheme called IEEE floating point, which uses 64 bits: 1 bit for the sign, 11 for magnitude and the rest for a reminder for a non-negative.

Next, we took a look at how images, characters and sound all created from a computer are formed. Words include the same bits that was mentioned with the negative numbers, where they form the basis of words themselves. Images are represented using pixels of vast colors and sound are represented WAN sound format, which models the sound on the computer.Finally we look at the encryption of words. This goes back to the algorithms lesson, where in this case, we create and form our own code to our liking.

So far in the course, it's been quite the joyride: first we get to understand the history of computers, the importance of algorithms and some DrRacket here and there but the new classes involving binaural numbers has now become my next challenge. Before the course, I used to think that binaural numbers were a type of encrypted numbers that represented whatever the computer generated, but after this course, I see that the binaural numbers have more than to just random numbers. I need to be aware of what else binary numbers can do so I don't mess up anything else in the course. The rest such as pixels, WAN files and encryptions seem understandable but I can't take them with a grain of salt, for they have hold more information that we might see in the future.

After the lecture, we had our first midterm test. The questions themselves were enigmatic at first, but after some careful evaluation, I finally managed to answer all the questions to the best of my prior knowledge and studies that were introduced in the test.

Finally, we enter assignment week, as we have been introduced to our next assignment, as well as finishing up the others for this week.