Computational Logic

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Binary Systems

Computer systems store and process data as binary digits.

Why use binary form?

Underneath the surface computers are electrical devices that process information by controlling the flow of electricity through billions of wires and transistors (electrical switches) inside the central processing unit and other components.
The presence of electricity represents a 1, and an absence of electricity represents a 0.

The transistor

Transistors are electrical components made from semiconductor materials that can act as electrically-controlled switches.
Transistors can be used to temporarily store data, for example in some forms of primary storage (memory).

Transistors in the CPU

Inside a Central Processing Unit (CPU), transistors are arranged into circuits to perform operations such as calculations when electricity is passed through them.
For example, transistors can be arranged to form an 'adder' circuit that can accept two binary numbers, and output the sum of their values.
Modern CPUs contain over 3 billion transistors, allowing them to perform billions of calculations per second.

Logic Circuits

Multiple transistors can be arranged together to make logic gates and logic circuits.

Logic gates

Multiple transistors can be arranged together to form more complex "switches" that only allow electricity to flow through if all or some of the transistors are "on".
These arrangements are called logic gates.

Examples of logic gates

The AND gate performs the boolean AND function:
- It will only output true if both of its inputs are true.
The OR gate performs the boolean OR function:
- It will output true if either or both of its inputs are true.
The NOT gate performs the boolean NOT function:
- It takes one input and inverts it.

Logic circuits

Logic gates can be combined to create complex logic circuits.
These logic circuits can perform functions such as adding numbers and storing data.

1Components of a Computer

1.1Structure & Function of the Processor

1.1.1Structure of the CPU

1.1.2Fetch, Decode, Execute Cycle

1.1.3Factors Affecting CPU Performance

1.1.4CPU Architecture

1.2Types of Processors

1.2.1CISC & RISC

1.2.2Multicore & Parallel Cores

1.3Input, Output & Storage

1.3.1Computer Systems

1.3.2Magnetic Storage

1.3.3Optical Storage

1.3.4Types of Optical Storage

1.3.5Types of Memory

1.3.6Flash Memory

1.3.7Virtual Memory

2Software & Software Development

3Exchanging Data

4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms

4.1Data Types

4.1.1Data Types

4.1.2Arrays & Strings

4.1.3Representing Numbers

4.1.4Binary Arithmetic

4.1.5Hexadecimal

4.1.6Converting Binary Numbers

4.1.7Floating Points in Binary

4.1.8Floating Point Arithmetic

4.1.9Bitwise Manipulation

4.1.10Character Sets

4.2Data Structures

4.2.1Arrays, Linked Lists & Queues

4.2.2Graphs, Hash Tables & Stacks

4.2.3Trees

4.3Boolean Algebra

4.3.1Computational Logic

4.3.2Boolean Logic

4.3.3Karnaugh Maps

4.3.4Boolean Identities

4.3.5Flip Flops & Adder Circuits

5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues

5.1Computing Related Legislation

5.1.1Data Protection Act (1998)

5.1.2Computer Misuse Act (1990)

5.1.3Copyright Designs and Patents Act (1988)

5.1.4Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (2000)

5.2Moral & Ethical Issues

5.2.1Online Activity Tracking

5.2.2Censorship

5.2.3Cultural Issues

5.2.4Environmental Issues

5.2.5Layout, Colour Paradigms & Character Sets

6Elements of Computational Thinking

6.1Thinking Abstractly

6.1.1Abstraction

6.2Thinking Procedurally

6.2.1Decomposition

6.3Thinking Logically

6.3.1Pseudocode & Flow Diagrams

7Problem Solving & Programming

7.1Programming Techniques

7.1.1Programming Fundamentals

7.1.2Modularity

7.2Programming Construction

7.2.1Integrated Development Environments

7.2.2Testing

8Algorithms

8.1Algorithms

8.1.1Interpreting, Correcting & Completing Algorithm

8.1.2Sort Algorithms

8.1.3Insertion & Merge Sort

8.1.4Search Algorithms

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