Clemson University -- CPSC 231 -- Fall 2010 -- Study Guide for Final Exam


The final is cumulative as defined by previous study guides along with
additional material on floating-point identified below.

Approximate weights:

20% - Exam 1 material
20% - Exam 2 material
20% - Exam 3 material
35% - Exam 4/5 material
5% - floating point


1. Be able to define and discuss these terms:

        binary fraction         scaled numbers (fixed-point numbers)

        floating point          exponent
        fraction                hidden bit
        significand             bias notation (e.g., excess-127)
        rounding                cancellation of approx. equal numbers
        flt. pt. addition       flt. pt. multiplication

2. Be able to explain why computations with real numbers (i.e., floating
   point) can sometimes experience errors.  Why does the cancellation of
   approximately equal numbers tend to magnify any representation and/or
   roundoff errors?