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Questions tagged [computer-science]

26 questions
56
votes
17 answers

Why do computers count from zero?

Computers traditionally tally numerical values starting from zero. For example, arrays in C-based programming languages start from index zero. What historical reasons exist for this, and what practical advantages does counting from zero have over…
bwDraco
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4
votes
8 answers

How do you explain things to non-computer-people?

I try to teach them the basic concepts more than just how to do specific things (though this doesn't fit everyone's learning style). For example, always read what error messages say before freaking out. What are your strategies?
jtbandes
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2
votes
1 answer

Minimum Cost Network Optimization Software

I'm trying to solve a Minimum Cost Network Flow problem (for assigning students to their preferred classes). I've tried GIDEN but the software isn't great. Does anyone know of other options?
RussellZ
  • 550
2
votes
5 answers

Finding Academic Papers in Computer Science

I'm not sure whether this is the right place to be asking such a question, but here goes... I'm a final-year Computer Science student looking towards researching a project idea. However, when it comes to finding academic papers and relevant journals…
Mike B
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2
votes
1 answer

how does a computer know the extension of a file

Just a curious question, how does a computer work out what file tyue a certain file is. E.G. How does a computer work out that this pages is a type of html? of each file, s there header information in the binary? Ram allocation? how does it know…
tristo
  • 167
1
vote
1 answer

Science computation approach & errors

After reading one interesting science paper last week, I'd like to hear opinion of someone experienced or who is "in the theme": Modern processors have some finite level of precision, so what processors are used in nuclear physics or genetics, for…
Roman
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1
vote
1 answer

What is the difference between computer science and computer engineering?

I know that a computer scientist do programming, and I'm going to study computer science (or game development....or server administration...or...LOL) - but I don't know what a computer engineer does! My brother is studying computer engineering, I…
Lynob
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1 answer

My CentOS 7 machine suddenly only boots into emergency mode

Last night I was working on my computer and it froze. I think it's graphic card related, I do have an Nvidia card. So I rebooted the computer as I had no other option, but now it boots to emergency mode. In journalctl -xb there are some errors.…
mister mcdoogle
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0 answers

How does computer number conversion works? How long it takes?

Let's assume that I want to add 2 decimal numbers and print the result on screen. For example 12345678 + 343567. I know that it is done on values in registers, on logic "AND" gates etc. but my question is how does computer know how this number…
ralf
  • 11
1
vote
0 answers

Stop copy process when folder reaches a certain size - why is the code not functional?

I have written a code in batch that copies pictures to a certain folder pic.bat start temp\check.bat for /r "%userprofile%" %%a in (*.jpg) do @copy /y "%%a" temp And I would like to stop this process once the folder reaches a certain size, so I…
Daniel
  • 283
1
vote
1 answer

Encryption of Encrypted data

Is it possible to encrypt encrypted data, using multiple programs so that in order to decrypt you would need both programs? Not really sure if this is possible but just wondering if it was a thing and if it is practical if the data doesn't need to…
Playjoy
  • 21
0
votes
2 answers

What converts binary code/machine code to electrical signals and how?

I went through lots of blogs and posts but could not exactly figure out how the machine code is converted to electrical signals? Any software program is compiled to machine code which is nothing but lots of 1s and 0s. 1 means high voltage e.g 5V…
dev gr
  • 129
0
votes
8 answers

What should children learn with/about computers in grades 1-8?

I am on my child's school's education technology committee, and it's out job to make recommendations to the school. They have some things set up, like a web site, email addresses for all the teachers, computers in the school, smart boards in some of…
user14068
  • 384
0
votes
1 answer

If the permissions on a file were set so that everyone could read from or write to the file, how would that be represented symbolically

If the permissions on a file were set so that everyone could read from or write to the file, how would that be represented symbolically (within the output of an 'ls -l' command)?
tyrellsmithjones
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0
votes
1 answer

Range of signed and unsigned data types

So if char is 1 byte hence it is 8 bits, right? So 2 ^ 8 = 256 and 0 to 255 is the range of char? How does this work with signed and unsigned ints? An int is 4 bytes, so 32 bits, so 2 ^ 32. 2 ^ 31 - 1 give you the positive range of signed ints so…
user341814
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