← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

Converting across several units

To convert across several units, divide by 1024 for each step up the ladder or multiply by 1024 for each step down. Bytes to MiB is two steps, so divide by 1024 twice.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 1.3 Data Storage and Compression — Module 14

Understanding Converting across several units in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: This is a divide-by-1024 step, and the number of steps decides how many times you repeat it. Larger units mean a smaller number. Bytes to KiB is one step and KiB to MiB is a second step. Going up the ladder means dividing by 1024 for each step. Converting one step at a time and converting in one calculation both use the same 1024 per step, so the answer is 6 291 456 KiB either way. A larger unit holds more, so you need fewer of them. Divide when moving up the ladder and multiply when moving down.

Common mistakes: The answer in MiB is stored in mib, not kib. kib is only the middle step (KiB). It should be print(mib, "MiB"). Going from MiB down to KiB means moving to a smaller unit, so you multiply by 1024. It should be kib = mib * 1024.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 69–84) and word search (Modules 59–84).

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Learning

Duo

Convert 3 145 728 bytes to MiB. Which method is correct?

Divide by 1024 twice (answer: 3 MiB)Divide by 1024 once

Matches

MiB = bytes / 1024

↓

Bytes to MiB is two steps up the ladder (byte, KiB, MiB), but this divides by 1024 only once. It gives KiB, not MiB. It should be bytes / 1024 / 1024.

Applying

Meanings

Term

1024 per step

Meaning

To convert across several units, divide by 1024 for each step up the ladder or multiply by 1024 for each step down. Bytes to MiB is two steps, so divide by 1024 twice.

Practice

bytes ← 5242880

Testing

Gaps

MiB = bytes / 1024 /

Check Answer

Spots

3mib = kib / 1024

4print(kib, "MiB")

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Quick Questions

1. Convert 3 145 728 bytes to MiB. Which method is correct?

A. Divide by 1024 twice (answer: 3 MiB) ✓

B. Divide by 1024 once

Bytes to KiB is one step and KiB to MiB is a second step. Going up the ladder means dividing by 1024 for each step.

2. Convert 2 GiB to KiB. Which method is correct?

A. Multiply by 1024 once

B. Multiply by 1024 twice (answer: 2 097 152 KiB) ✓

GiB to MiB is one step and MiB to KiB is a second step. Going down the ladder means multiplying by 1024 for each step.

3. How many steps are there between KiB and TiB on the ladder?

A. 4 steps

B. 3 steps (KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB) ✓

Count the jumps, not the units. KiB to MiB, MiB to GiB and GiB to TiB is 3 jumps, so you divide or multiply by 1024 three times.

4. Convert 5 MiB to bytes. Which calculation is correct?

A. 5 × 1024 × 1024 ✓

B. 5 ÷ 1024 ÷ 1024

Bytes are two steps below MiB. Going to a smaller unit means multiplying by 1024 for each step, giving 5 242 880 bytes.

5. To convert TiB to MiB, how many times do you multiply by 1024?

A. Twice (TiB to GiB, GiB to MiB) ✓

B. Three times

TiB to GiB is one step and GiB to MiB is the second step, so you multiply by 1024 twice.

Match the Pairs

bytes / 1024 / 1024 → Converts bytes to MiB by dividing by 1024 twice, once for each step up the ladder (byte to KiB, then KiB to MiB).

GiB * 1024 * 1024 → Converts GiB to KiB by multiplying by 1024 twice, once for each step down the ladder (GiB to MiB, then MiB to KiB).

Going up several units makes the number smaller, so divide by 1024 once per step. TiB to GiB is one step, so TiB to MiB is two steps. → MiB = GiB / 1024

Going down several units makes the number bigger, so multiply by 1024 once per step. MiB to bytes is two steps. → bytes = MiB * 1024 * 1024

MiB = bytes / 1024 → Bytes to MiB is two steps up the ladder (byte, KiB, MiB), but this divides by 1024 only once. It gives KiB, not MiB. It should be bytes / 1024 / 1024.

KiB = GiB / 1024 / 1024 → GiB to KiB goes down the ladder, so the number should get bigger. It should multiply by 1024 twice, not divide: GiB * 1024 * 1024.

Key Term

1024 per step

To convert across several units, divide by 1024 for each step up the ladder or multiply by 1024 for each step down. Bytes to MiB is two steps, so divide by 1024 twice.

Fill in the Blanks

1. MiB = bytes / 1024 / 1024

Hint: Type the number you divide by for the second step up the ladder, from KiB to MiB.

2. KiB = GiB * 1024 * 1024

Hint: Type the operator used to move down to a smaller unit. GiB to KiB is two steps down.

3. GiB = bytes / 1024 ** 3

Hint: Type the number of steps on the ladder from byte to GiB (byte, KiB, MiB, GiB).

4. KiB = bytes / 1024 MiB = KiB / 1024

Hint: Converting one step at a time: type the variable holding the result of the first step.

5. MiB = bytes / 1024 / 1024

Hint: Type the operator that moves up to a larger unit, used once for each step.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A bytes = 5242880

B kib = bytes / 1024

C mib = kib / 1024

D print(kib, "MiB")

Line D — The answer in MiB is stored in mib, not kib. kib is only the middle step (KiB). It should be print(mib, "MiB").

Question 2

A gib = 2

B mib = gib * 1024

C kib = mib / 1024

D print(kib, "KiB")

Line C — Going from MiB down to KiB means moving to a smaller unit, so you multiply by 1024. It should be kib = mib * 1024.

Question 3

A gib = 2

B mib = gib * 1024

C kib = mib * 1024

D b = kib * 1000

E print(b, "bytes")

Line D — Every step on the storage ladder uses 1024, not 1000. It should be b = kib * 1024.

Question 4

A tib = 3

B gib = tib / 1024

C print(gib, "GiB")

Line B — TiB to GiB is one step down to a smaller unit, so multiply by 1024. It should be gib = tib * 1024.

Question 5

A kib = 8388608

B gib = kib / 1024

C print(gib, "GiB")

Line B — KiB to GiB is two steps up (KiB, MiB, GiB), so you divide by 1024 twice. It should be gib = kib / 1024 / 1024.

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