WGU C952 with complete solutions
scientific notation
A single digit to the left of the decimal point
Normalized
A number in floating-point notation that has no leading 0s
Fraction
The value, generally between 0 and 1, placed in the fraction field. The fraction is also called the
mantissa or significand
Overflow (floating point)
A situation in which a positive exponent becomes too large to fit in the exponent field
Exponent
In the numerical representation system of floating-point arithmetic, the value that is placed in the
exponent field
Underflow (floating point)
A situation in which a negative exponent becomes too large to fit in the exponent field
Double precision
A floating-point value represented in a 64-bit doubleword
Single precision
A floating-point value represented in a 32-bit word
Exception
Also called interrupt. An unscheduled event that disrupts program execution; used to detect overflow
Interrupt
An exception that comes from outside of the processor
Guard
The first of two extra bits kept on the right during intermediate calculations of floating-point
numbers; used to improve rounding accuracy
Round
Method to make the intermediate floating-point result fit the floating-point format; the goal is
typically to find the nearest number that can be presented in the format. It is also the second of two
extra bits kept on the right during intermediate floating-point calculations, which improves rounding
accuracy.
Units in the last place (ulp)
, The number of bits in error in the least significant bits of the significant between the actual number
and the number that can be represented. A measure of accuracy in floating point numbers.
Sticky bit
A bit used in rounding in addition to guard and round that is set whenever there are nonzero bits to
the right of the round bit.
fused multiply add
A floating-point instruction that performs both a multiply and an add, but rounds only once after the
add.
Personal computer
A computer designed for use by an individual, usually incorporating a graphics display, a keyboard and
a mouse
Server
A computer used for running larger programs for multiple users, often simultaneously, and typically
accessed only via a network
Supercomputer
A class of computers with the highest performance and cost; they are configured as servers and
typically cost tens to hundreds of millions of dollars
Embedded computer
A computer inside another device used for running one predetermined application or collection of
software
Verilog HDL
One of the two most common hardware description languages used to write processor cores in
embedded processors
Personal mobile devices (PMDs)
Small wireless devices to connect to the Internet; they rely on batteries for power, and software is
installed by downloading apps. Conventional examples are smart phones and tablets.
Cloud Computing
Refers to large collections of servers that provide services over the internet; some providers rent
dynamically varying numbers of servers as utility
Software as a Service (SaaS)
delivers software and data as a service over the Internet, usually via a thin program such as a browser
that runs on local client devices, instead of binary code that must be installed, and runs wholly on that
device. Examples include web search and social networking.
Multicore microprocessor
A microprocessor containing multiple processors ("cores") in a single integrated circuit.
scientific notation
A single digit to the left of the decimal point
Normalized
A number in floating-point notation that has no leading 0s
Fraction
The value, generally between 0 and 1, placed in the fraction field. The fraction is also called the
mantissa or significand
Overflow (floating point)
A situation in which a positive exponent becomes too large to fit in the exponent field
Exponent
In the numerical representation system of floating-point arithmetic, the value that is placed in the
exponent field
Underflow (floating point)
A situation in which a negative exponent becomes too large to fit in the exponent field
Double precision
A floating-point value represented in a 64-bit doubleword
Single precision
A floating-point value represented in a 32-bit word
Exception
Also called interrupt. An unscheduled event that disrupts program execution; used to detect overflow
Interrupt
An exception that comes from outside of the processor
Guard
The first of two extra bits kept on the right during intermediate calculations of floating-point
numbers; used to improve rounding accuracy
Round
Method to make the intermediate floating-point result fit the floating-point format; the goal is
typically to find the nearest number that can be presented in the format. It is also the second of two
extra bits kept on the right during intermediate floating-point calculations, which improves rounding
accuracy.
Units in the last place (ulp)
, The number of bits in error in the least significant bits of the significant between the actual number
and the number that can be represented. A measure of accuracy in floating point numbers.
Sticky bit
A bit used in rounding in addition to guard and round that is set whenever there are nonzero bits to
the right of the round bit.
fused multiply add
A floating-point instruction that performs both a multiply and an add, but rounds only once after the
add.
Personal computer
A computer designed for use by an individual, usually incorporating a graphics display, a keyboard and
a mouse
Server
A computer used for running larger programs for multiple users, often simultaneously, and typically
accessed only via a network
Supercomputer
A class of computers with the highest performance and cost; they are configured as servers and
typically cost tens to hundreds of millions of dollars
Embedded computer
A computer inside another device used for running one predetermined application or collection of
software
Verilog HDL
One of the two most common hardware description languages used to write processor cores in
embedded processors
Personal mobile devices (PMDs)
Small wireless devices to connect to the Internet; they rely on batteries for power, and software is
installed by downloading apps. Conventional examples are smart phones and tablets.
Cloud Computing
Refers to large collections of servers that provide services over the internet; some providers rent
dynamically varying numbers of servers as utility
Software as a Service (SaaS)
delivers software and data as a service over the Internet, usually via a thin program such as a browser
that runs on local client devices, instead of binary code that must be installed, and runs wholly on that
device. Examples include web search and social networking.
Multicore microprocessor
A microprocessor containing multiple processors ("cores") in a single integrated circuit.
