A1 COMPUTER FUNDAMENTALS
DESIGNED FOR IB EXAMINATIONS
In this section, you’ll dive into how computers handle different types of data. By the end of this topic, you’ll understand the essential building blocks that allow computers to store, process, and display everything from numbers and text to images and sounds.
You’ll start by learning about number systems like binary, denary, and hexadecimal, and how to convert between them. You’ll also discover how computers add binary numbers and how overflow errors happen when there’s more data than an 8-bit system can handle.
Next, we’ll explore how computers represent text, sound, and images in binary. You’ll see how things like character sets, sample rate, and resolution play a role in file size and quality.
Finally, you’ll learn about data storage units and compression techniques, which help make files smaller for easier storage and faster transmission.
By mastering these basics, you’ll be well-prepared to understand more complex computer science concepts later on.
You’ll start by learning about number systems like binary, denary, and hexadecimal, and how to convert between them. You’ll also discover how computers add binary numbers and how overflow errors happen when there’s more data than an 8-bit system can handle.
Next, we’ll explore how computers represent text, sound, and images in binary. You’ll see how things like character sets, sample rate, and resolution play a role in file size and quality.
Finally, you’ll learn about data storage units and compression techniques, which help make files smaller for easier storage and faster transmission.
By mastering these basics, you’ll be well-prepared to understand more complex computer science concepts later on.
A1.1 COMPUTER HARDWARE AND OPERATION
☐ 1.1.1 FUNCTIONS OF THE CPU
☐ 1.1.2 ROLE OF THE GPU
☐ 1.1.3 CPU VS GPU
☐ 1.1.4 PURPOSE AND TYPES OF PRIMARY MEMORY
☐ 1.1.5 FETCH, DECODE AND EXECUTE CYCLE
☐ 1.1.6 PIPELINING IN MULTICORE ARCHITECTURES
☐ 1.1.7 SECONDARY MEMORY STORAGE
☐ 1.1.8 CONCEPTS OF DATA COMPRESSION
☐ 1.1.9 CLOUD COMPUTING
A1.2 DATA REPRESENTATION AND COMPUTER LOGIC
☐ 1.2.1 REPRESENTING DATA
☐ 1.2.2 HOW BINARY IS USED TO STORE DATA
☐ 1.2.3 LOGIC GATES
☐ 1.2.4 TRUTH TABLES, CIRCUITS, EXPRESSIONS AND K MAPS
☐ 1.2.5 LOGIC CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS
A1.3 OPERATING SYSTEMS AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
☐ 1.3.1 ROLE OF OPERATING SYSTEMS
☐ 1.3.2 FUNCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEMS
☐ 1.3.3 APPROACHES TO SCHEDULING
☐ 1.3.4 INTERUPT HANDLING
☐ 1.3.5 MULTITASKING
☐ 1.1.1 FUNCTIONS OF THE CPU
☐ 1.1.2 ROLE OF THE GPU
☐ 1.1.3 CPU VS GPU
☐ 1.1.4 PURPOSE AND TYPES OF PRIMARY MEMORY
☐ 1.1.5 FETCH, DECODE AND EXECUTE CYCLE
☐ 1.1.6 PIPELINING IN MULTICORE ARCHITECTURES
☐ 1.1.7 SECONDARY MEMORY STORAGE
☐ 1.1.8 CONCEPTS OF DATA COMPRESSION
☐ 1.1.9 CLOUD COMPUTING
A1.2 DATA REPRESENTATION AND COMPUTER LOGIC
☐ 1.2.1 REPRESENTING DATA
☐ 1.2.2 HOW BINARY IS USED TO STORE DATA
☐ 1.2.3 LOGIC GATES
☐ 1.2.4 TRUTH TABLES, CIRCUITS, EXPRESSIONS AND K MAPS
☐ 1.2.5 LOGIC CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS
A1.3 OPERATING SYSTEMS AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
☐ 1.3.1 ROLE OF OPERATING SYSTEMS
☐ 1.3.2 FUNCTIONS OF OPERATING SYSTEMS
☐ 1.3.3 APPROACHES TO SCHEDULING
☐ 1.3.4 INTERUPT HANDLING
☐ 1.3.5 MULTITASKING
