8

DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION REGION
III

SCHOOLS DIVISION OF ANGELES CITY

Angeles City National Trade School
Fil-Am Friendship Hiway Brgy. Cutcut, Angeles City

Learning Activity Sheets

in

Technology and Vocational

Education
COMPUTER
TECHNOLOGY
QUARTER 3
WEEK 1-3

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Written by: Edited by:
Rhiza A. Sumayod Cristy D. Liwanag
OIC-HT Gilbert D. Medina

Let’s find out

At the end of the lesson, the learners are expected to:

LO 1. Select measuring instruments

1.1 Identify object/s or component to be measured
1.2 Obtain correct specifications from relevant source
1.3 Select measuring tools in line with job requirements LO
2. Carry out measurements and calculation
2.1 Select appropriate measuring instrument to achieve required outcome
2.2 Obtain accurate measurements for job
2.3 Perform calculation needed to complete task using the four mathematical
fundamental operations addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (x), and
division (÷)

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 2.4 Use calculation involving fractions, percentages and mixed numbers to complete
workplace tasks
2.5 Self-check and correct numerical computation for accuracy
2.6 Read instruments to the limit of accuracy of the tool LO
3. Maintain measuring instruments
3.1 Ensure proper handling of measuring instruments to avoid damage and clean it
before and after using
3.2 Identify tasks to be undertaken for proper storage of instruments according to
manufacturer‘s specifications and standard operating procedures

The lesson covers one of the common competencies that a student ought to possess
– Performing Mensuration and Calculation.

Let’s learn

General Terms:

Mensuration – the act of measuring or measurement.

Calculation – the process of calculating.

A measurement is determining a dimension, capacity, or quantity of an object, or

the duration of a task.

In computers, measurements are constantly occurring and determining the

computer's function. These measurements include whether a storage medium has enough
space to store a file, the CPU's current temperature, and how long the user is idle.

TYPES OF COMPONENTS AND OBJECTS TO BE MEASURED

1. MEMORY - is used most often to identify fast, temporary forms of storage. When the
information is kept in memory, the CPU can access it much more quickly. Most forms of
memory are intended to store data temporarily.

• Read-only memory (ROM) chips are located in the motherboard. ROM chips contain
instructions that can be directly accessed by the CPU.

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 Basic instructions for booting the computer and loading the operating systems are stored
in ROM. ROM chips retain their contents even when the computer is powered down. The
contents cannot be erased or changed by normal means.

• Random Access Memory (RAM) is the temporary storage for data and programs that
are being accessed by the CPU. RAM is volatile memory, which means that the
contents are erased when the computer is powered off. The more RAM in a computer,
the more capacity the computer has to hold and process large programs and files, as
well as enhance system performance.
Early computers had RAM installed in the motherboard as
individual chips. The individual memory chips, called Dual Inline
Package (DIP) chips, was difficult to install and often became
loose on the motherboard. To solve this problem, designers
soldered the memory chips on a special circuit board called a
memory module.

• SIMMs (Single Inline Memory Module) have 30-pin

and 72-pin configurations.

• DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module) is a circuit

board that holds SDRAM, DDR SDRAM and DDR2
SDRAM.

DDR (Double Data Rate) technology doubles the maximum bandwidth of SDRAM,
DDR2 offers faster performance while using less technology. DDR3 operates at even
higher speeds than DDR2; however, none of these DDR technologies are backward- or
forward- compatible.

• Caches are designed to alleviate this bottleneck by

making the data used most often by the CPU instantly
available.

• Registers are memory cells built right into the CPU that contain specific data needed
by the CPU, particularly the Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU). An integral part of the CPU
itself, they are controlled directly by the compiler that sends information for the CPU to
process.

• Storage drives read or write information on magnetic or optical storage media. The
drive can be used to store data permanently or to retrieve information from a media
disk. Storage drives can be installed inside the computer case, such as a hard drive.

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 For portability, some storage drives can connect to the computer using a USB port, a
FireWire port, or a SCSI port. These portable storage drives are sometimes referred to
as removable drives and can be used on multiple computers.

• Hard Drive, or Hard Disk Drive, is a magnetic storage device

that is installed inside the computer. The hard drive is used as
permanent storage for data. In a Windows computer, the hard
drive is usually configured as the C: drive and contains the
operating system and applications. The hard drive is often
configured as the first drive in the
boot sequence. The storage capacity of a hard drive is measured in billions of bytes, or
gigabytes (GB). The speed of a hard drive is measured in revolutions per minute
(RPM). Multiple hard drives can be added to increase
storage capacity. Traditional hard drives are magnetic.
Magnetic hard drives have drive motors designed to spin
magnetic platters and the drive heads. In contrast, the
newer solid state drives (SSDs) do not have moving parts.
Because there are no drive motors and moving parts, the
SSD uses far less energy than the magnetic hard drive.
Non-volatile flash memory chips manage all storage
on an SSD, which results in faster access to data, higher reliability, and reduced power
usage. SSDs have the same form factor as magnetic hard drives and use ATA or SATA
interfaces. SSDs can be installed as a replacement for magnetic drives.

• Optical Drive is a storage device that uses lasers to read

data on the optical media. There are three types of optical
drives: Compact Disc (CD), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)
and Blu-ray Disc (BD). CD, DVD, and BD media can be
prerecorded (read-only), recordable (write once), or re-
writable (read and write multiple times).

• External Flash Drive also known as a thumb drive, is a removable

storage device that connects to a USB port. An external flash drive
uses the same type of non-volatile memory chips as solid state
drives and does not require power to maintain the data. These drives
can be accessed by the operating system in the same way that other
types of drives are accessed.

• Floppy Drive or floppy disk drive, is a storage

device that uses removable 3.5-inch floppy disks.
These magnetic floppy disks can store 720 KB or
1.44 MB of data. In a computer, the floppy drive is
usually
configured as the A: drive. The floppy drive can be used to boot the computer if it
contains a bootable floppy disk. A 5.25-inch floppy drive is older technology and is
seldom used.

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 Types of Drive Interfaces
Hard drives and optical drives are manufactured with different interfaces that are
used to connect the drive to the computer. To install a storage drive in a computer, the
connection interface on the drive must be the same as the controller on the motherboard.
Here are some common drive interfaces:
• IDE – Integrated Drive Electronics, also called Advanced Technology
Attachment (ATA) is an early drive controller interface that connects computers and
hard disk drives. An IDE interface uses a 40-pin connector.
• SATA – Serial ATA refers to the serial version of the ATA drive controller
interface. A SATA interface uses a 7-pin data connector.
• SCSI – Small Computer System Interface is a drive controller interface that can
connect up to 15 drives. SCSI can connect both internal and external drives. An
SCSI interface uses a 50-pin, 68-pin, or 80-pin connector.

IDE
SATA SCSI

2. STORAGE CAPACITY - refers to how much disk space one or more storage devices
provides. It measures how much data a computer system may contain. For an example,
a computer with a 500GB hard drive has a storage capacity of 500 gigabytes. A network
server with four 1TB drives, has a storage capacity of 4 terabytes.
Storage capacity is often used synonymously with "disk space." However, it
refers to overall disk space, rather than free disk space. For example, a hard drive with
a storage capacity of 500GB may only have 150MB available if the rest of the disk
space is already used up. Therefore, when checking your computer to see if it meets a
program's system requirements, make sure you have enough free disk space to install
the program. If you need more disk space, you can increase your computer's storage
capacity by adding another internal or external hard drive.

3. PROCESSOR – is an integrated electronic circuit that

performs the calculations that run a computer. A
processor performs arithmetical, logical, input/output (I/O)
and other basic instructions that are passed from an
operating system (OS). Most other processes are
dependent on the operations of a processor. The terms
processor, central processing unit (CPU) and microprocessor are commonly linked as
synonyms. Most people use the word “processor” interchangeably with the term “CPU”
nowadays, it is technically not correct since the CPU is just one of the processors inside
a personal computer (PC).

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4. VIDEO CARD - Alternatively known as a display adapter, graphics card, video adapter,
video board, or video controller, a video card is an expansion card that connects to a
computer motherboard. It is used to create a picture on a display; without a video card,
you would not be able to see this page. More
plainly, it's a piece of hardware inside your
computer that processes images and video,
some of the tasks normally handled by the CPU.
Video cards are used by gamers in place of
integrated graphics due to their extra processing
power and video ram.

MEASURING TOOLS

1. MULTIMETER - Alternatively referred to as a circuit

analyzer, multitester, or VOM (Volt-Ohm-Meter), a device
used to test and measure current, voltage, and resistance. In
the picture is an example of a digital multimeter. The
multimeter connects to a circuit using two (red and
black/positive and negative) probes.

2. VOLTMETER - is an electronic instrument used to measure

potential between any two points in an electric or electronic
circuit in volts. A voltmeter can display readings in analog (a
pointer across a scale in fraction of the voltage of the circuit)
or digital (shows voltage directly as numerals) form. A voltmeter can also be used to
measure AC, DC as well as RF currents.

3. OHMMETER - is an electrical instrument that measures electrical

resistance (the opposition offered by a circuit or component to
the flow of electric current). An ohmmeter applies current to the
circuit or component whose resistance is to be measured. It then
measures the resulting voltage and calculates the resistance
using
Ohm’s law V = IR.
An ohmmeter should not be connected to a circuit or
component that is carrying a current or is connected to a power source.
Power should be disconnected before connecting the ohmmeter.

4. MILLIAMMETER – an instrument in measuring electric current

in amperes.

USING THE FOUR (4) FUNDAMENTAL OPERATION OF MATHEMATICS

These operations are commonly called arithmetic operations. Arithmetic is the oldest and
most elementary branch of mathematics.
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● Addition (+) - explains the total amount of objects when they are put together in a
collection.
● Subtraction (-) - the opposite of addition. It is used when you want to know how many
objects are left in the group after you take away a certain amount of objects from that
group.

● Multiplication (* or x) - When you multiply two numbers, this is the same as adding the
number to itself as many times as the value of the other number is.

● Division ( : or /) - dividing means splitting objects into equal parts or groups.

FORMULA FOR VOLUME, AREA, PERIMETER AND OTHER GEOMETRIC FIGURES.

2D Shapes

Name of the geometric Diagram Perimeter Area

shape

Triangle a+b+c 12bh

*
Circle 2 pi r pi r2

*
Square 4a a2

*
Rectangle 2(a + b) ab

*
Parallelogram 2(a + b) bh

*
Trapezoid 2a + b1 + b2 1/2 (b1 +
b2) X h
*

3D Shapes

Geometric Diagram Surface area Volume

shape

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 Sphere 4 pi r2 4/3 pi r3

6a2 a3
Cube

2ab + 2bc + 2ca abc

Rectangular
prizm

2 pi r2 + 2 pi r h pi r2h
Cylinder

1/3 pi r2h
pi rl + pi r2

Cone

area of base + 1/2 1/3 [area of

[perimeter of base] X base] X
slant height height

Prizm

DIGITAL REPRESENTATION

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Information is represented and stored in a digital binary format within a computer.
Computer uses the binary number to understand the letters, numbers and symbols.

DECIMAL – as a computer term, describes the base-10 number system. It contains 10-digit
single numbers 0-9.

BIT - an abbreviation of binary digit and represents the smallest piece of data. A bit can
have only two possible values, a one digit (1) or a zero digit (0) – one (1) means ON and
zero (0) means OFF. A bit can be used to represent the state of something that has two
states.

GIGAHERTZ – is classified as the clock rate or speed of the processor. It is the unit of
measurement when we are measuring the speed of CPU.

BINARY
The following chart illustrates the binary number 01101000.
Each column represents the number two raised to an
exponent, with that exponent's value increasing by one as you
move through each of the eight positions. To get the total of
this example, read the chart from right to left and add each
column's value to the previous column: (8+32+64) = 104. As
you can see, we do not count the bits with a 0 because they're
"turned off."

Exponent: 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20

Value: 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

ON/OFF: 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

The next example is 11111111 in binary, the maximum 8-bit value of 255. Again, reading
right to left we have 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 + 64 + 128 = 255.

Value: 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

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 ON/OFF: 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

NOTE: Counting on a computer normally starts at "0" instead of "1." Therefore, counting all
the bits does equal 255, but if you start at 0, it's 256.

When you have eight bits, it is equal to one byte. If you took the binary code from the first
example (01101000), which totaled "104," and put it into ASCII, it would produce a
lowercase "h." To spell the word "hi," you would need to add the binary for the letter "i,"
which is 01101001. Putting these two codes together, we have 0110100001101001 or 104
and 105, which represents "hi."

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CONVERT DECIMAL NUMBERS TO BINARY

To convert a decimal number to binary, here’s what to do:

1. Divide the number by 2
2. Get the quotient and the remainder
3. Bring down the quotient, divide it by 2
4. Repeat Step 2 and 3 until you get the quotient of 0 (zero)
5. Copy the remainder from bottom to top, and that is the binary equivalent.

EXAMPLE #1: 156

Step 1 -2:

Step 3 :

Step 4 :

Step 5 :

CHECKING:

Checking can be done in 2 ways:

Option 1:

1. Start by making a chart. List the powers of

two in a "base 2 table" from right to left. Start
at 20, evaluating it as "1". Increment the
exponent by one for each power. Make the
list up until you've r eached a number very
near the decimal system number you're
starting with. For this example, let's convert the decimal number 156 to binary.
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2. Look for the greatest power of 2 .
Choose the biggest number that will
fit into the number you are
converting. 128 is the greatest
power of two that will fit into 156, so
write a 1 beneath this box in your
chart for the leftmost binary digit.
Then, subtract 128 from your initial
number. You now have 28.

3. Move to the next lower power of

two. Using your new number (28),
move down the chart marking how
many times each power of 2 c an fit
into your dividend. 64 does not go
into 28, so write a 0 beneath that box
for the next binary digit to the right.
Continue until you reach a number
that can go into 28.

4. Subtract each successive number

that can fit, and mark it with a 1. 16
can fit into 28, so you will write a 1
beneath its box and subtract 16 from 28.
You now have 12. 8 does go into 12, so
write a 1 beneath 8's box and subtract it
from 12. You now have 4.

5. Continue until you reach the end of

your chart. Remember to mark a 1
beneath each number that does go into
your new number, and a 0 b eneath
those that don't.

6. Write out the binary answer. The

number will be exactly the same from left
to right as the 1's and 0's beneath your
chart. You should have 10011100. This
is the binary equivalent of the decimal
number 156. Or, written with base
subscripts: 156 = 10011100
• Repetition of this method will result in
memorization of the powers of two,
which will allow you to skip Step 1.

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Option 2:
1. Multiply the bits with its corresponding
value. Always start from right.

2. Get the sum

EXAMPLE #2: 30
CHECKING:
Option 1:

Option 2:

Converting name to corresponding Binary digit/code using the First letter.

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Example 1. RHIZA= 01010010 Example 2: CRISTY = 01000011

Example 3. WILLIAM = 01010111 Example 4: JUDYROSE = 01001010

CALCULATING DATA STORAGE

While a bit is the smallest representation of data, the most basic unit of digital
storage is the byte. A byte is 8 bits and is the smallest unit of measure (UOM) used to
represent data storage capacity. When referring to storage space, we use the terms bytes
(B), kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), and terabytes (TB).

One kilobyte is a little more than one thousand bytes, specifically 1,024. A megabyte
represents more than a million bytes or 1,048,576. A gigabyte is 1,073,741,824 bytes. A
terabyte is 1,099,511,627,776.

Here is another conversion:

1 byte = 8bits
1kilobyte = 1,024 bytes
1 megabyte = 1,024 kilobytes
1 gigabyte = 1,024 megabyte
1terabyte = 1,024 gigabyte

When something is represented digitally, the greater the detail, the greater the
number of bits needed to represent it. A low-resolution picture from a digital camera will use
around 360KB, and a high-resolution picture could use 2 MB or more.

Examples of components and devices that use byte storage include: random access
memory (RAM), hard disk drive space, CDs, DVDs, and MP3 players. CDs have a data
storage capacity of approximately 700 MB. DVDs have a data storage capacity of
approximately 4.3 GB on a single-layer disc, and approximately 8.5 GB on a dual-layer
disc. BDs have a storage capacity of 25 GB on a single-layer disc, and 50 GB on a dual-
layer disc. Once we know the size of a file or folder, it is possible to determine the number
of bytes being used.
Example:
A file is 25KB in size
1KB = 1,024Bytes
25 x 1,024 = 25,600Bytes in a 25KB file

If this 25KB file is stored in a 1MB folder, how many files can be stored in that
folder?
1MB = 1,048,576Bytes 25KB = 25,600Bytes
1,048,576Bytes/25,600Bytes = 40.96 files can be stored in a 1MB

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MAINTAIN MEASURING INSTRUMENTS

MEMORY
The gold contacts at the bottom of your RAM must be clean and free of debris in
order to maintain a solid connection. If your RAM sticks are dirty, your computer might not
recognize that they’re installed and may sometimes show a blue screen. Normally, dusting
out the inside of your computer on a monthly basis (more if the environment is unusually
dusty) is sufficient to keep RAM modules clean.
Holding a RAM without caution and proper anti-static protection could break your
precious memory module. Although this piece is sensitive and delicate, it will not break if
you handle the device correctly and properly. Here are some safety measures in handling a
RAM.
• Use anti-static wrist straps or anti-static clips to drain all the static electricity
that is present in your body and which you could acquire if you have a carpeted floor.
• After taking the RAM out of your computer, do not place it anywhere because
it could be exposed to other elements (especially water or anything moist) and it is better
that you put it in an anti-static plastic container first before placing the RAM in a safe
location.
• If possible, wear thin rubber gloves when holding the RAM. Place your fingers
on the edge of its corners (the green plated part of the module with plastic coating) to
avoid the chances of damaging the sensitive parts of the RAM.

HARD DISK DRIVE

Hard disk drive (HDD) can last for years when properly maintained. Neglect can lead
an HDD to fail sooner than it normally would and the potential loss of valuable data.
Common causes for a drive failure include:
• Water damage
• Overheating
• Electrical faults
• Firmware corruption
• Damaged boot sector
• Mechanical failure

Be Careful about Downloading and Installing Software

One of the most common reasons clients need hard drive recovery services is
because malware has infected the drive and destroyed its ability to boot.

Keep the Computer’s Components Free of Dust

Air circulation causes dust to collect inside the computer’s case, so it’s important to
periodically remove dust and debris to prevent electrical faults or overheating.

Update the Computer’s Operating System with Critical Patches

By keeping the computer’s OS up to date with the latest patches, it’ll be less likely to
become infected with malicious software that can damage data on its HDD.

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Defragment the Drive Regularly
Large files can become scattered across the drive’s platter, which slows the process
of reading them and impacts a computer’s performance. Defragmentation reorganizes all
the software and data into an optimal arrangement.

Delete Unused Software and Files Periodically

It’s important to maintain free space on a drive that the computer can use for
temporary storage. When its drive becomes too full, a computer can slow to a crawl as it
attempts to use the little free space left to juggle data.

REMOVABLE STORAGE DEVICES

Flash drives or thumb drives are also highly important mainly because they contain
files that you use in school or personal life. Failure to properly take care of these devices
and disks could result in irreversible loss of essential data.
Avoid placing your removable disks on top of other electronic devices. If you place
your USB or other disk on top of your TV set, computer, gaming platform, for a long period
of time, this can lead to data damage.
Make it a point to eject your drive properly. Make sure you always “safely remove”
your removable device from your PC whenever you are about to detach it. This prevents
sudden data loss and damage to the drive. Pulling your flash drive or memory card away
from its PC socket without doing the “safely remove” action can lead to total disk damage.

Maintain the integrity of your files. Monitor what goes in and out of the drive.
Accessing peer to peer software, adult sites, and sites with known malware and spyware
issues, can all cause viruses to creep into your PC storage items and compromise the
integrity of your files. Keep it all safe. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try in protecting
your disks, they are subjected to wear, tear, and other unforeseen factors. To make sure
that you do not instantly lose important data, backup your files in multiple locations.

OPTICAL MEDIA
CDs and DVDs are extremely delicate data storage media and any type of mishandling can
damage the CD or DVD thereby resulting in data loss. Therefore, it is important for you to
exert caution while using these optical media.

Do:
1. Handle discs by the outer edge or the center hole.
2. Keep dirt or other foreign matter from the disc.
3. Store discs upright (book style) in plastic cases specified for CDs and DVDs.
4. Store discs in a cool, dry, dark environment in which the air is clean. 5. Remove
dirt, foreign material, fingerprints, smudges, and liquids by wiping with a clean
cotton fabric in a straight line from the center of the disc toward the outer edge.

Do not:
1. Touch the surface of the disc.
2. Bend the disc.
3. Store discs horizontally for a long time (years).
4. Expose discs to extreme heat or high humidity.
5. Write or mark in the data area of the disc (the area the laser “reads”).

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6. Clean by wiping in a direction going around the disc.
7. Scratch the label side of the disc.
8. Use a pen, pencil, or fine-tip marker to write on the disc.
9. Write on the disc with markers that contain solvents.
10.Try to peel off or reposition a label.

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