Explain the consequences of using bits to represent data.
DAT-1.B.1 In many programming languages, integers are represented by a fixed number of bits, which limits the range of integer values and mathematical operations on those values. This limitation can result in overflow or other errors.
DAT-1.B.2 Other programming languages provide an abstraction through which the size of representable integers is limited only by the size of the computer’s memory; this is the case for the language defined in the exam reference sheet.
DAT-1.B.3 In programming languages, the fixed number of bits used to represent real numbers limits the range and mathematical operations on these values; this limitation can result in round-off and other errors. Some real numbers are represented as approximations in computer storage.