Numeration for digital electronics — Evaluate: “Digital electronics must use a numbering system that has more than ten digits.”

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Incorrect

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Digital electronics are fundamentally binary—two symbols (0 and 1) suffice to represent any number or code by positional weighting. Higher-radix notations such as octal and hexadecimal are conveniences for humans, not necessities for the hardware. The statement claims that a system must use a base with more than ten digits, which is not accurate.

Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Binary digits (bits) are the native storage and processing units.
  • Human-readable notations (octal/hex/decimal) are for documentation and debugging.
  • Logic families implement two distinct levels for robustness.


Concept / Approach:
With positional notation, any integer can be represented with any base b ≥ 2. Hardware favors b = 2 due to physical reliability of two-state devices and simple logic. While base-10 displays are common for user interfaces, internals remain binary. Therefore, it is false that digital electronics must have “more than ten digits.”

Step-by-Step Solution:

Recognize that binary (base 2) is sufficient and standard.Note that octal (base 8) and hex (base 16) are optional notations for compactness.Conclude the necessity claim is incorrect.


Verification / Alternative check:

Consider microcontrollers and CPUs; all store and compute using bits while exposing decimal UX only at the periphery.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Correct: Would imply bases greater than 10 are mandatory, which is untrue.Valid only for octal and hex machines: No such requirement exists; radix choice for representation is flexible.Applies to analog computers only: Analog computing does not use positional digit systems.


Common Pitfalls:

Confusing machine-native representation (binary) with human shorthand (hex/oct).Believing multiple voltage levels (multi-valued logic) are required; they are rare and not necessary.


Final Answer:

Incorrect

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