. The quantity of double word is
a) 16 bits
b) 32 bits
c) 4 bits
d) 8 bits
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: b) 32 bits
Explanation (300+ Words):
In computer systems, data is stored and processed in different units such as bits, nibbles, bytes, words, and double words. Understanding these units is essential for grasping how memory and processors handle data.
Let’s break down these data units step by step:
- 1 bit is the smallest unit of data in computing, representing a binary value — either 0 or 1.
- 1 nibble consists of 4 bits.
- 1 byte is made up of 8 bits and can represent 256 different values (2⁸).
- 1 word typically refers to the standard unit of data that a processor handles in one operation. For many systems (especially 16-bit systems), 1 word = 16 bits.
- A double word (or DWORD), as the name suggests, is twice the size of a word. So if one word is 16 bits, a double word is: $$
16 \text{ bits} \times 2 = 32 \text{ bits}
$$
Therefore, a double word is equal to 32 bits, and this is the correct answer to the question.
Practical Usage:
Many computer architectures, especially those based on Intel x86, define a word as 16 bits. A double word is then 32 bits, and a quad word would be 64 bits.
In programming, especially in lower-level languages like C or Assembly, data types like DWORD (double word) are common. For instance, in Windows programming, DWORD is used as a data type to represent 32-bit unsigned integers.
Why It Matters:
Understanding the size of data types is crucial for:
- Memory allocation
- Data alignment
- Understanding how much space variables occupy
- Optimizing software performance
- Writing hardware drivers or interacting directly with memory addresses
In conclusion, the correct answer is (b) 32 bits, as a double word is defined to be twice the size of a 16-bit word, making it 32 bits in total.
