EECS 1520 Final Exam 2026 (EECS 1520) – 150 Questions & Answers – Computer History, Digital Logic, Data Representation & Sampling

This document contains approximately 150 fully solved EECS exam questions and answers covering the historical development of computing, digital logic foundations, data representation, and analog-to-digital conversion principles. It includes key milestones such as the Abacus (3000 BC), Jacquard Loom punch cards, Boolean algebra (George Boole), Claude Shannon’s application of Boolean logic to digital circuits, Alan Turing’s universal machine model, ENIAC, and the Von Neumann stored-program architecture. The material thoroughly explains foundational computing concepts including programs, machine code, compilers (Grace Hopper), transistors and integrated circuits, Intel 4004 microprocessor, IBM System/360, IBM PC, Apple Macintosh, ARPANET, the World Wide Web, and Moore’s Law. It also explores the evolution of digital systems and microprocessors, the shift from vacuum tubes to transistors, and the architectural principles behind modern computers (CPU, memory, I/O, fetch-decode-execute cycle). In addition, the document provides comprehensive coverage of information theory and digital representation, including the distinction between information, data, and signals; analog vs digital data; sampling and quantization; Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem; amplitude and frequency of sine waves; binary encoding; bits and bytes; positional notation; decimal and binary number systems; and advantages of digital transmission, storage, regeneration, and error correction. It emphasizes why computers rely on binary logic and how continuous signals are discretized for processing and storage. This study resource is particularly relevant for: Students enrolled in EECS 1520 Introduction to Computer Science Electrical Engineering and Computer Science majors Computer Engineering students Students studying Digital Systems or Information Representation Candidates preparing for foundational computing midterms or final exams It is suitable for courses such as: Introduction to Computer Science Digital Logic Fundamentals Computer Organization Basics Data Representation and Encoding Information and Communication Systems This document functions as a comprehensive final exam preparation guide, reinforcing historical context, digital logic theory, binary representation, sampling principles, and foundational computing architecture concepts essential for early-level engineering and computer science programs. Keywords: EECS 1520 final exam 2026, history of computing ENIAC Von Neumann, Boolean algebra digital logic, Claude Shannon information theory, Alan Turing machine model, transistor integrated circuits microprocessor Intel 4004, IBM System 360 mainframe, ARPANET World Wide Web, Moore law transistors doubling, analog vs digital data representation, sampling quantization Nyquist Shannon theorem, amplitude frequency sine wave, binary encoding bits bytes, positional notation base 2 base 10, digital signal transmission regeneration, information data signal definitions