Basic Arithmetic and Number Systems

Basic Arithmetic

• Arithmetic is fundamental to many ICT and technology applications.
• Fundamental operations include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• These operations are used in calculations for data processing, algorithm design, and programming.
• Understanding order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS) is crucial; parentheses/brackets, exponents/orders, multiplication and division (left to right), addition and subtraction (left to right).

Binary Numbers

• Binary is a base-2 number system, using only 0 and 1.
• It's the foundation of digital computing.
• Each bit (binary digit) represents a power of 2.
• Conversion between binary and decimal numbers is essential.
• Binary arithmetic follows the rules of base-2 addition and subtraction.

Decimal Numbers

• Decimal numbers are base-10 numbers, using digits 0 to 9.
• Decimal representation is commonly used in calculations and displays.
• Understanding place value is crucial for calculations and conversions.
• Fractional parts of decimal numbers are often represented with a decimal point.

Percentage Calculations

• Percentages represent fractions of 100.
• Calculations involving percentages are crucial in areas like data analysis, finance, and statistics in ICT.

Scientific Notation

• Scientific notation is used to represent very large or very small numbers.
• Useful for calculations involving significant figures in many scientific applications in ICT.
• It uses powers of 10.

Algebraic Concepts

• Basic algebraic operations, including simplification, solving equations, and factoring, are essential for programming, algorithms, and formula manipulation.

Logic Gates

• Logic gates are fundamental building blocks of digital circuits.
• They perform logical operations: AND, OR, NOT, XOR, NAND, NOR.
• Understanding logic gates is crucial for comprehending digital systems within technology.

Boolean Algebra

• Boolean algebra is a mathematical system for representing and manipulating logic statements using variables.
• It underlies the operation of computer logic circuits.
• This knowledge is important in software development and hardware design within IT.

Data Representation

• Understanding how data (numbers, text, images, etc.) is represented in binary format is vital.
• Different data types (integers, floating-point, characters) have specific bit patterns.
• Bit manipulation and encoding are applied to represent data efficiently in computer systems.

Computer Storage Units

• Understanding units of storage like bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes is crucial.
• The relationship between these units (e.g., 1 KB = 1024 bytes) must be understood.
• These are frequently encountered in data storage capacity management.

Estimation and Approximation

• Ability to estimate results and perform approximate calculations is useful, especially when dealing with large datasets or complex computations.
• Used for quick validations, predictions, and determining reasonableness of results.

Measurement and Units

• Understanding different units of measurement (length, weight, time, etc.) is crucial for practical applications in areas such as data acquisition, image and video processing, or system analysis.
• Converting between different units is often necessary.
• Understanding the accuracy and precision of measurements and associated errors (e.g., significant figures) is especially important in scientific and technical applications.

Problem Solving:

• Applying mathematical principles to solve problems encountered in ICT is critical.
• Identifying the appropriate mathematical tools and techniques and applying them effectively are important.
• Steps involved in problem-solving, including defining a problem, developing a strategy, executing the plan, and evaluating the results, are essential.