Itanium® Architecture for Programmers: Understanding 64-Bit Processors and EPIC Principles
by James S. Evans - Lawrence University, Gregory L. Trimper - viika
1.4. Prefixes for Binary Multiples
For certain topics, especially architecture, computer science is a quantitative science. We shall introduce appropriate discussions of number systems and related matters as they are needed. The first such discussion here treats the matter of scale factors and abbreviations for “big” numbers.
Treating 210 (1024) and 103 (1000) as synonymous introduced a sloppy situation for nomenclature in the fields of computer science, data processing, and data transmission. People were using the prefix kilo, from the International System of Units (SI), not only for its proper meaning of precisely 1000, but also to denote the binary multiple 1024. Doing so introduces an uncertainty of 2.4% in magnitude. The uncertainty compounds ...
Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.
Read now
Unlock full access