Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
the king in paying Paul. In these formulae, the number of ker
nels of corn paid for with one square of a chessboard were 2
i
,
2
i
1,
i
2
,
i
! (
i
factorial), and
i
i
. Compute each of these values
for a variety of values of
i
, and then plot the results with
i
on
one axis and the number of kernels on the other axis. (Be sure
all results are plotted on the same axes.) Describe in words
how the graphs for the various formulae compare.
2.
Consider how the themes of this chapter might apply to the
number of users that a computer system can support. Are
there advantages as a computer system expands from sup
porting one user to a few to many? Are there disadvantages
or risks? Explain.
3.
This question asks you to consider what accuracy is needed in
results for several applications.
a.
Consider the software that controls traffic lights at a four
way intersection. In each direction, lights shift from red to
green to amber and back to red. After a light turns red in
one direction, there is a small delay before the light(s) in
another direction turn green—allowing traffic to clear the
intersection one way before crosstraffic starts. How
tightly should the timing of lights be controlled? That is,
would it be satisfactory for times for lights to be controlled
within 10 seconds? Within 1 second? Within 0.1 seconds?
Explain.
b.
Suppose I want to compute the amount of fabric needed to
cover a sofa. How accurate might I be able to be in my
measurements of the sofa? What implications does this
have for my conclusions about fabric needs? (Possible re
search question: When buying fabric, how much accuracy
is required?)
4. a.
Identify an application in which final results are needed to
two decimal places of accuracy.
b.
Identify an application in which final results are needed to
the nearest integer.
(Note: You may
not
use applications described either by
the material in this chapter or by other discussion ques
tions or exercises.)
