Thursday, April 19, 2007

Lab 10 Post



Although the Hartley Uncertainty and Shannon's Entropy both measure uncertainty, they do this in two different ways. Shannon's Entropy uses probability to calculate the amount of uncertainty and also calculates the probability of an alternative occuring. Hartley Uncertainty only measures the amound of information needed to remove uncertainty, and how many yes-no questions needed to arrive at a correct alternative.

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Lab 9 Post

In doing this lab I learned how to interpret data in many different ways. For example, you can use the plain numbered data, put that data into a graph, or incorporate the data analysis tool. The data analysis tool helps to give a better understanding of the data that you are presenting. Also, using the fit line helps to predict what your data will be doing in the future.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Lab 8 Post



I found this lab to be pretty easy. I have been working with Excel since high school, and also took a Business class that used Excel last sememster. Overall, the lab was a review for me, but it's always good to review things and keep them fresh in your mind.

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Lab 7 Task 3




With this circuit the outputs are the same, proving DeMorgan's Law is a tautology rather than a contradiction.

A - B - Output A - B - Output
0 - 0 - 1 0 - 0 - 1
1 - 0 - 1 1 - 0 - 1
0 - 1 - 1 0 - 1 - 1
1 - 1 - 0 1 - 1 - 0

Lab 7 Task 2




With this circuit the output is only true with the not circuit when A and B are either both false or both true. Without the not circuit, the output is true when only one A or B is true and the other is false.

A - B - Output A - B - Output
0 - 0 - 1 0 - 0 - 0
1 - 0 - 0 1 - 0 - 1
0 - 1 - 0 0 - 1 - 1
1 - 1 - 1 1 - 1 - 0

Friday, February 23, 2007

Converting from Binary to Decimal

In order to convert the binary number 110010101 to decimal you must first start with the very last number (1). You then multiply this number by two to the power of 0, which is 1. You then continue to work your way from right to left and multiply by two, but increase the power from 0 to 1 and then 1 to 2, etc. Once you have done this for all of the numbers, you then add all of your answers together. So the answer for the binary number 110010101 would be 405 in decimal.

In order to convert the decimal number 529 to binary you must first divide that number by 2. Since 529 is indivisible we get a 1 for the first answer. We then subtract 1 from 529 to get 528. You then divide 528 by 2 to get 264. Since it was divisible by 2 you mark down a 0. Divide 264 by 2 and get 132, so we write another 0. You continue this process until you cannot divide or subtract anymore. The decimal number 529 in binary is 10001000011.

The difference between positional and non-positional number systems is the bases are different.

Friday, February 16, 2007

Chapter 6 Response

I think that it is interesting to read about how companies such as Amazon.com "stalk" us, in a way, through our purchases and also things that we search for on the internet (i.e electronic trails). It is a great advantage for them because they can target certain types of people in order to make a greater profit. For example, when looking at one item, most websites will also refer you to other objects that may interest you based on what you went there to search for in the first place. I think that search engines can also be connected to this idea as well. It is really prevalent with the search engine Ask.com because when you search for one thing, it also suggests other topics that are similar to what you were originally there searching for. These types of websites also rank their results by which websites are visited most by those using the internet.