← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

Pebibyte (PiB)

A pebibyte (PiB) is a unit of data storage equal to 1024 tebibytes (TiB). It is used for very large amounts of data, such as in big data centres.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 1.3 Data Storage and Compression — Module 7

Understanding Pebibyte (PiB) in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: Going from a smaller unit (TiB) to a larger unit (PiB) means dividing by 1024. The ladder goes up in order, and PiB comes straight after TiB, with each step being 1024 times bigger. The order is KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, PiB, EiB. The pebibyte is the next unit above the tebibyte. Multiply by 1024: 2 x 1024 = 2048 TiB. A PiB is enormous, so it is used for huge amounts of data such as in big data centres. A text document is only a few KiB. The broken line uses the decimal 1000. The binary units such as the pebibyte use 1024.

Common mistakes: 1 PiB = 1024 TiB, so the divisor must be 1024, not 1000. It should be pib = tib / 1024. The variable tib holds a number of tebibytes, so the label must be 'TiB'. It should be print(tib, 'TiB').

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

🖨 Print worksheet + answer key Add Pebibyte (PiB) to a class →

This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 59–68) and word search (Modules 59–84).

Take this worksheet further — free with Cloodit

Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning
Duo
How many tebibytes (TiB) are in 1 pebibyte (PiB)?
1024 TiB1000 TiB
Matches
1 PiB = 1000 TiB
↓
Storage units use 1024 between steps, not 1000, so 1 PiB is 1024 TiB.
Applying
Meanings
Term
PiB
Meaning
A pebibyte (PiB) is a unit of data storage equal to 1024 tebibytes (TiB). It is used for very large amounts of data, such as in big data centres.
Practice
CONSTANT TiBPerPiB ← 1024
Testing
Gaps
1 PiB = TiB
Check Answer
Spots
2tib = 2048
3pib = tib / 1000

Cloodit turns curriculum-aligned coding content into journeys students work through one biome at a time.

The 'Anglerfish' badge — Deep Diver, one of Cloodit's 106 collectible badges
Students earn collectable badges

Over 100 of them, across seven natural biomes.

Study Buddy
Students build a real study resource

Turns their work into revision material ready for Flash Cards and Exam study.

Diamond Dash — one of Cloodit's live, competitive Sprint games
Students lock in with Sprints

Live, competitive practice for the start of the lesson or a teacher-led lesson finisher.

A Cloodit certificate of achievement, ready to personalise and print
Custom printable certificates

Honour your top performers, or encourage a student who's trying hard — ready to print in seconds.

Add to class →

Quick Questions

1. How many tebibytes (TiB) are in 1 pebibyte (PiB)?
A. 1024 TiB ✓
B. 1000 TiB
1 PiB = 1024 TiB. Each step up the unit ladder multiplies by 1024, not 1000.
2. Which unit comes directly after the tebibyte (TiB) on the unit ladder?
A. Pebibyte (PiB) ✓
B. Gibibyte (GiB)
The order is KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, PiB, EiB. The pebibyte is the next unit above the tebibyte.
3. Which statement about the pebibyte is correct?
A. A PiB is smaller than a TiB
B. A PiB is larger than a TiB ✓
A pebibyte is 1024 times bigger than a tebibyte, so it is the larger unit.
4. Which sentence shows the correct conversion?
A. 2 PiB = 2000 TiB
B. 2 PiB = 2048 TiB ✓
Multiply by 1024: 2 x 1024 = 2048 TiB.
5. Where would you most likely see data measured in PiB?
A. A very large data centre ✓
B. A single text document
A PiB is enormous, so it is used for huge amounts of data such as in big data centres. A text document is only a few KiB.

Match the Pairs

1 PiB = 1024 TiB → One pebibyte is made up of 1024 tebibytes
PiB → The symbol for pebibyte, a unit used for huge amounts of data
A pebibyte is 1024 times bigger than a tebibyte, so TiB to PiB means dividing by 1024 → PiB = TiB / 1024
The pebibyte is the unit above the tebibyte on the storage ladder → GiB -> TiB -> PiB
1 PiB = 1000 TiB → Storage units use 1024 between steps, not 1000, so 1 PiB is 1024 TiB.
1 TiB = 1024 PiB → The units are the wrong way round. A PiB is the larger unit, so 1 PiB = 1024 TiB.

Key Term

PiB
A pebibyte (PiB) is a unit of data storage equal to 1024 tebibytes (TiB). It is used for very large amounts of data, such as in big data centres.

Fill in the Blanks

1. 1 PiB = 1024 TiB
Hint: Type the number of tebibytes that make one pebibyte.
2. 1 PiB = 1024 TiB
Hint: Type the abbreviation of the unit one step smaller than a pebibyte.
3. 1 PiB = 1024 TiB
Hint: Type the abbreviation for the pebibyte, the unit one step above the tebibyte.
4. 2 PiB = 2 x 1024 = 2048 TiB
Hint: Type the result of multiplying 2 by the number of TiB in one PiB.
5. GiB -> TiB -> PiB -> EiB
Hint: Type the unit that sits between the tebibyte and the exbibyte on the unit ladder.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A # convert TiB to PiB
B tib = 2048
C pib = tib / 1000
D print(pib, 'PiB')
Line C — 1 PiB = 1024 TiB, so the divisor must be 1024, not 1000. It should be pib = tib / 1024.
Question 2
A pib = 3
B tib = pib * 1024
C print(pib, 'PiB')
D print(tib, 'PiB')
Line D — The variable tib holds a number of tebibytes, so the label must be 'TiB'. It should be print(tib, 'TiB').
Question 3
A def to_pib(tib):
B pib = tib / 1024
C return pib
D print(to_pib(4096)
Line D — The closing bracket of print() is missing. It should be print(to_pib(4096)).
Question 4
A tib_in_pib = 1000
B pib = 5
C tib = pib * tib_in_pib
D print(tib)
Line A — A pebibyte is 1024 tebibytes, not 1000. It should be tib_in_pib = 1024.
Question 5
A big = 'EiB'
B small = 'TiB'
C n = 1024
D print(1, big, '=', n, small)
Line A — The larger unit that equals 1024 TiB is the pebibyte (PiB), not the exbibyte (EiB). It should be big = 'PiB'.

Student with a class code? Join your class →