Units of Storage in Computer

UNITS OF STORAGE IN COMPUTER
Data can be stored in the computer through several methods using

varying electronic components. Some these components include: Hard
disk, Compact disk, Flash drive, Floppy disk, Random Access Memory
(RAM), etc.
Some units of storage in computer include:
Bit: The Smallest Unit of data on a binary computer. A single bit consist
of 0 (zero) or 1 (one).
Nibble: A nibble is a collection of four bits.
Bytes: A byte consists of eight bits. It is the smallest item that can be
individually accessed by a program.
Word: A word is a group of 16 bits
Others are;
Name Symbo size Approximate
l size
Kilobyte KB 1024 B 1000 B
Megabyte MB 1024 1000 KB
KB
Gigabyte GB 1024 1000 MB
MB
Terabyte TB 1024 1000 GB
GB
Petabyte PB 1024 1000 TB
TB
Exabyte EB 1024 1000 PB
PB
Zettabyte ZB 1024 1000 EB
EB
Yottabyte YB 1024 1000 ZB
ZB
Conversion from one Unit to another

The conversion process from one unit to another can be done using the
following standard table.
1 bit = 0 or 1
1 nibble = 4 bits
1 bytes = 8 bits
1 word = 16 bits
1 kilobyte = 1024 bytes
1 MB = 1024 KB
1 GB = 1024 MB
1 TB = 1024 GB
1 PB = 1024 TB
1 EB = 1024 PB
1 ZB = 1024 EB
1 YB = 1024 ZB
Example 1 Example 2
Convert 1200bits to byte Convert 30KB to byte
Solution Solution
We are required to convert 1200 We are required to convert 30KB
bits to byte to byte
Let the unknown byte be x Let the unknown byte be x
It implies that; It implies that;
1200bits = xbyte 30KB = xbyte
The relationship between bits and The relationship between kb and
bytes is byte is
8bits = 1 byte 1KB = 1024byte
Cross multiplying we have Cross multiplying we have
xbyte × 8bits = 1200bits × 1byte xbyte × 1KB = 30KB × 1024byte
Divide both sides by the Divide both sides by the
coefficient of the unknown unit coefficient of the unknown unit
of storage which is the 8bits of storage which is the 1 kb
(xbyte × 8bits)/(8bits) = (xbyte × 1KB)/(1KB) = (30KB ×
(1200bits × 1byte)/(8bits) 1024byte)/(1KB)
xbyte = (1200 byte)/8 xbyte = 30 × 1024bytes
xbyte = 150bytes xbyte = 30720bytes
Therefore 1200bits = 150bytes Therefore 30kb = 30720bytes
Example 3 Example 4
Convert 10240 KB to MB Convert 1.22 MB to Byte (B)
Solution Solution
We are required to convert 10240 We are required to convert 1.22
to kilobyte MB to B
Let the unknown kilobyte be x Let the unknown B be x
It implies that; It implies that;
10240KB = xMB 1.22 MB = xB
The relationship between KB and The relationship between MB
MB is and B is
1024KB = 1MB 1MB = 1024 × 1024B
Cross multiplying we have 1MB = 1048576B
xMB × 1024KB = 10240KB × Cross multiplying we have
1MB xB × 1MB = 1.22 MB ×
Divide both sides by the 1048576B
coefficient of the unknown unit Divide both sides by the
of storage which is the 1024 byte coefficient of the unknown unit
(xMB × 1024KB)/(1024KB) = of storage which is the 1MB
(10240KB × 1MB)/(1024KB) (xB × 1MB)/(1MB) = (1.22 MB
xMB = (10240 × 1MB)/1024 × 1048576B)/(1MB)
xKB = 10MB xB = (1.22 × 1048576B)/1
Therefore 10240KB =10MB xB = 1279262.72B
Therefore 1.22 MB =
1279262.72B
Convert the following

a. 12 bits to byte
b. 50 bits to word
c. 1420 Bytes to Kilobytes
d. 2 Gigabytes to Megabyte
Difference between Kilometer, Kilogram and Kilobyte

Kilometre, Kilogramme and kilobytes are different units of measurement
used for different purposes.
1.To measure distance travelled from one place to another, unit of distance
must be used, which is the metre, and one of its multiples is the
kilometer. i.e. 1km = 1000m =103m
2.To measure quantity or weight of an object, a unit of weight must be
used, which is the gramme, and one of it multiple is the kilogramme. i.e.
1kg = 1000g = 103g
3. To measure the amount of space that is required for a document or data
to be held temporary or permanently in a storage medium, a unit of
storage must be used which is the byte, and one of its multiple is the
kilobyte. i.e 1 KB = 1024 B
From the above, it follow that Kilometre (Km), Kilogramme (Kg) and
Kilobyte (KB) are units of different parameters.
Paramete Unit Symbol Multiple

r
Distance metre m Km
Weight gramme g Kg
Storage byte B KB

Units of Storage in Computer

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UNITS OF STORAGE IN COMPUTER

Data can be stored in the computer through several methods using

Conversion from one Unit to another

Convert the following

Difference between Kilometer, Kilogram and Kilobyte

Paramete Unit Symbol Multiple

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