COS1521
assignment
answers.
, COS1521/001/0/2021
Tutorial Letter 001/0/2021
Computer Systems: Fundamental Concepts
Year module
School of Computing
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please register on myUnisa, activate your myLife e-mail account and
make sure that you have regular access to the myUnisa module
website, COS1521-2021-Y1, as well as your group website
BARCODE
, CONTENTS
Page
1 ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................................................. 3
1.2 Assessment plan ............................................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Assignment numbers ......................................................................................................................... 6
1.3.1 General assignment numbers ........................................................................................................... 6
1.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ............................................................................................................. 6
1.4 Assignment due dates ....................................................................................................................... 7
1.5 Submission of assignments ............................................................................................................... 7
1.6 The assignments ............................................................................................................................... 8
1.6.1 Assignment 01 .................................................................................................................................. 8
1.6.2 Assignment 02 ................................................................................................................................ 14
1.6.3 Assignment 03 ................................................................................................................................ 26
1.6.4 Assignment 04 …… ........................................................................................................................ 33
1.7 Other assessment methods ............................................................................................................ 34
1.8 The examination .............................................................................................................................. 34
2
, COS521/001/0/2021
Dear Student
This tutorial letter gives the most important information that you need regarding assessments,
assignments, assignment dates, the exam etc. Please refer to the Tutorial letter 101 for any
information that you cannot find in this tutorial letter. The assignment dates in the letter are the
correct ones. Please work on these dates and study programme.
1 ASSESSMENT
1.3 Assessment criteria
The assessment criteria are given for each specific outcome:
Specific outcome 1: Demonstrate how data are represented, manipulated and stored in a
computer using number systems, Boolean algebra, Karnaugh maps, truth tables and basic
logic circuits drawings, in the context of given problem statements.
Assessment criteria:
• Conversions between different number systems (binary, octal, decimal and hexadecimal);
• The application of different arithmetic methods in the binary number system;
• The identification of computer data includes the different internal representations;
• Explanations include the basic restrictions placed by computer architecture upon
numerical computations;
• The determination of outputs of basic combinational logic circuits for given inputs;
• Graphical representations of the combinational circuits for given Boolean functions;
• The simplifications of Boolean functions by implementing appropriate rules/methods;
• The determination of a Boolean function for a given problem statement using truth tables
(at most 4 variables);
• Boolean expressions and binary logic that describe the behaviour of logic circuits;
• The descriptions of the functioning of different types of combinational and sequential logic
circuits.
Specific outcome 2: Demonstrate an understanding of the basic functions of computers, the
software development process and units of hardware and software components.
Assessment criteria:
• Today’s computers are described in context of some short historical background, different
architectures and ethical scenarios/issues;
• Descriptions of software engineering and operating systems include the development of
software in a historical context;
• The description of a basic computer includes the three basic hardware subsystems and
their interconnecting functioning;
• The description of an operating system includes the functioning of its components;
• The descriptions of popular operating systems with references to different popular
operating platforms;
• The definition of an algorithm includes its relation to problem solving;
• Definitions of the three algorithm constructs include descriptions of their use in
algorithms;
• Descriptions of basic algorithms include their applications;
3
assignment
answers.
, COS1521/001/0/2021
Tutorial Letter 001/0/2021
Computer Systems: Fundamental Concepts
Year module
School of Computing
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please register on myUnisa, activate your myLife e-mail account and
make sure that you have regular access to the myUnisa module
website, COS1521-2021-Y1, as well as your group website
BARCODE
, CONTENTS
Page
1 ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................................................. 3
1.2 Assessment plan ............................................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Assignment numbers ......................................................................................................................... 6
1.3.1 General assignment numbers ........................................................................................................... 6
1.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ............................................................................................................. 6
1.4 Assignment due dates ....................................................................................................................... 7
1.5 Submission of assignments ............................................................................................................... 7
1.6 The assignments ............................................................................................................................... 8
1.6.1 Assignment 01 .................................................................................................................................. 8
1.6.2 Assignment 02 ................................................................................................................................ 14
1.6.3 Assignment 03 ................................................................................................................................ 26
1.6.4 Assignment 04 …… ........................................................................................................................ 33
1.7 Other assessment methods ............................................................................................................ 34
1.8 The examination .............................................................................................................................. 34
2
, COS521/001/0/2021
Dear Student
This tutorial letter gives the most important information that you need regarding assessments,
assignments, assignment dates, the exam etc. Please refer to the Tutorial letter 101 for any
information that you cannot find in this tutorial letter. The assignment dates in the letter are the
correct ones. Please work on these dates and study programme.
1 ASSESSMENT
1.3 Assessment criteria
The assessment criteria are given for each specific outcome:
Specific outcome 1: Demonstrate how data are represented, manipulated and stored in a
computer using number systems, Boolean algebra, Karnaugh maps, truth tables and basic
logic circuits drawings, in the context of given problem statements.
Assessment criteria:
• Conversions between different number systems (binary, octal, decimal and hexadecimal);
• The application of different arithmetic methods in the binary number system;
• The identification of computer data includes the different internal representations;
• Explanations include the basic restrictions placed by computer architecture upon
numerical computations;
• The determination of outputs of basic combinational logic circuits for given inputs;
• Graphical representations of the combinational circuits for given Boolean functions;
• The simplifications of Boolean functions by implementing appropriate rules/methods;
• The determination of a Boolean function for a given problem statement using truth tables
(at most 4 variables);
• Boolean expressions and binary logic that describe the behaviour of logic circuits;
• The descriptions of the functioning of different types of combinational and sequential logic
circuits.
Specific outcome 2: Demonstrate an understanding of the basic functions of computers, the
software development process and units of hardware and software components.
Assessment criteria:
• Today’s computers are described in context of some short historical background, different
architectures and ethical scenarios/issues;
• Descriptions of software engineering and operating systems include the development of
software in a historical context;
• The description of a basic computer includes the three basic hardware subsystems and
their interconnecting functioning;
• The description of an operating system includes the functioning of its components;
• The descriptions of popular operating systems with references to different popular
operating platforms;
• The definition of an algorithm includes its relation to problem solving;
• Definitions of the three algorithm constructs include descriptions of their use in
algorithms;
• Descriptions of basic algorithms include their applications;
3
