Strayer CIS512 Week 3 Assignment 1 Numerical Precision

CIS 512 Week 3 Assignment 1
Numerical Precision
Assignment 1:Numerical Precision
The storage and representation of numbers in a computer can lead
to costly mistakes because of precision errors. When using floating point
numbers, one must make sure that the correct number of digits is used in a
calculation because rounding errors can produce values that lead to errors.
Consider the floating point format, exponential format, and binary coded
decimal (BCD).
Write a four to five (4-5) page paper in which you:
1. Analyze the floating point format in order to:
a. Determine how floating point numbers are stored in memory.
b. Discuss the ease or difficulty of manipulating and using
floating point numbers in arithmetic calculations.
2. Determine whether or not you believe that the floating point
format is memory efficient. Provide a rationale to support your answer.
3. Analyze the format used to store numbers using the binary coded
decimal format. Determine whether the BCD format is more or less memory
efficient than the floating point format.
4. Compare and contrast the BCD format to the floating point
format in terms of:
a. precision
b. performance in calculations
c. memory usage
5. Select the format (floating point format, binary coded decimal
(BCD), or exponential format) that you would recommend for processing
efficiency and explain why.
6. Floating point numbers can introduce rounding errors in the
banking industry, which may lead to financial benefit for the bank but not for
the customer. Analyze the ethics of knowingly benefitting from rounding errors.
Propose a plan on how the rounding error should be handled.
7. Differentiate between the exponential format and the floating
point format in terms of:
a. format
b. processing speed
c. accuracy
8. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment.Note:Wikipedia and similar Websites do
not qualify as quality resources.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12),
with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or
school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional
instructions. Assignment must be written in APA style and include in-text
citations.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s
name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and
the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.