Bit grouping and storage size: consider the binary string “1011 1001 0110 1110”. How many bytes of data does this 16-bit pattern occupy?

Introduction / Context:
Understanding how bits aggregate into bytes and words is vital for memory sizing, data alignment, and communication protocols. The given pattern contains 16 bits grouped as four nibbles (4-bit groups), commonly written with a space every 4 bits for readability.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Total bit count: 16 bits (1011 1001 0110 1110).
• 1 byte = 8 bits, 1 nibble = 4 bits.
• No parity or additional overhead bits are included; it is a raw bit count question.

Concept / Approach:
Compute the number of bytes using the simple identity: bytes = total_bits / 8. This is a direct unit conversion from bits to bytes with no rounding since 16 is an exact multiple of 8.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Break into two bytes explicitly: first byte 10111001 (B9 in hex), second byte 01101110 (6E in hex). Two bytes are present, confirming the calculation.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing nibbles and bytes, or miscounting due to visual spacing. Spaces in binary strings are for readability only and do not change the bit count.

Final Answer:
2