IS 310 UMBC EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2026.
Computationally Infeasible - ANS When a computer algorithm is so complicated that it would
take too long to run in a reasonable time.
Computer Organization - ANS - Addresses control signals (how the computer is controlled),
signaling methods, and memory types. • How does a computer work physically?
Computer Architecture - ANS Focuses on the structure and behavior of the computer system
and refers to the logical and abstract aspects of system implementation as seen by the
programmer. • How does a computer work logically?
Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) - ANS An agreed-upon (a standard) interface between all of
the software that runs on a machine and the hardware that executes it.
Principle of Equivalence - ANS Any task done by software can also be done by hardware, and
any operation performed directly by hardware can be done by software.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) - ANS Focuses on electrical and
computer engineering.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
,International Telecommunications Union (ITU) - ANS Focuses on standards for telephony and
other data communication systems.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) - ANS Sets certain computer standards specific
to the United States.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) - ANS Coordinates worldwide standard
development
Jaquard Loom (1801) - ANS Used punched cards (a program) to instruct a machine to weave
patterns into cloth.
Babbage Difference Engine (1822) - ANS Designed to solve polynomial functions
Babbage Analytical Engine (1833) - ANS • The first machine we could reasonably call a
computer. • Used Jaquard's concept of punched cards to store programs.
Hollerith Tabulating Machine (1889) - ANS First used to compile 1890 Census. • Punch cards
were the primary way of storing programs in computers until the 1950s
Hollerith Card - ANS The standard card format used during this time. IBM
Vacuum Tube (Valve) - ANS Controls the flow of electrons in electrical systems in a similar
way to how valves control the flow of water in a plumbing system.
ENIAC (1946) - ANS • The first all-electric, general-purpose digital computer. • Designed to
calculate ballistic trajectories during World War 2
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
, Transistor (1948) - ANS A solid-state version of a switch that can be opened or closed by
electrical signals.
• Considerably more reliable than vacuum tubes.
Integrated Circuit (Microchip) - ANS Allowed the placement of multiple transistors on a single
(usually silicon) chip. • Invented by Robert Noyce, who co-founded Intel.
VLSI (Very Large-Scale Integration) - ANS Over time the number of transistors that could be
placed on a chip increased dramatically. • Due to better fabrication technology.
Moore's Law - ANS The density of silicon chips doubles every 18 months. • Has held for 50
years
Rock's Law - ANS The cost of capital equipment to build semiconductors will double every
four years.
Semantic Gap - ANS The difference between the programs you run on a computer and the
actual physical hardware executing those programs.
Level 6 - ANS The applications you use on a computer.
Level 5 - ANS The programming languages used to create the programs in Level 6.
Level 4 - ANS When your code is compiled (like Java) into something that can be run by the
operating system.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
3
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2026.
Computationally Infeasible - ANS When a computer algorithm is so complicated that it would
take too long to run in a reasonable time.
Computer Organization - ANS - Addresses control signals (how the computer is controlled),
signaling methods, and memory types. • How does a computer work physically?
Computer Architecture - ANS Focuses on the structure and behavior of the computer system
and refers to the logical and abstract aspects of system implementation as seen by the
programmer. • How does a computer work logically?
Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) - ANS An agreed-upon (a standard) interface between all of
the software that runs on a machine and the hardware that executes it.
Principle of Equivalence - ANS Any task done by software can also be done by hardware, and
any operation performed directly by hardware can be done by software.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) - ANS Focuses on electrical and
computer engineering.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
,International Telecommunications Union (ITU) - ANS Focuses on standards for telephony and
other data communication systems.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) - ANS Sets certain computer standards specific
to the United States.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) - ANS Coordinates worldwide standard
development
Jaquard Loom (1801) - ANS Used punched cards (a program) to instruct a machine to weave
patterns into cloth.
Babbage Difference Engine (1822) - ANS Designed to solve polynomial functions
Babbage Analytical Engine (1833) - ANS • The first machine we could reasonably call a
computer. • Used Jaquard's concept of punched cards to store programs.
Hollerith Tabulating Machine (1889) - ANS First used to compile 1890 Census. • Punch cards
were the primary way of storing programs in computers until the 1950s
Hollerith Card - ANS The standard card format used during this time. IBM
Vacuum Tube (Valve) - ANS Controls the flow of electrons in electrical systems in a similar
way to how valves control the flow of water in a plumbing system.
ENIAC (1946) - ANS • The first all-electric, general-purpose digital computer. • Designed to
calculate ballistic trajectories during World War 2
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
, Transistor (1948) - ANS A solid-state version of a switch that can be opened or closed by
electrical signals.
• Considerably more reliable than vacuum tubes.
Integrated Circuit (Microchip) - ANS Allowed the placement of multiple transistors on a single
(usually silicon) chip. • Invented by Robert Noyce, who co-founded Intel.
VLSI (Very Large-Scale Integration) - ANS Over time the number of transistors that could be
placed on a chip increased dramatically. • Due to better fabrication technology.
Moore's Law - ANS The density of silicon chips doubles every 18 months. • Has held for 50
years
Rock's Law - ANS The cost of capital equipment to build semiconductors will double every
four years.
Semantic Gap - ANS The difference between the programs you run on a computer and the
actual physical hardware executing those programs.
Level 6 - ANS The applications you use on a computer.
Level 5 - ANS The programming languages used to create the programs in Level 6.
Level 4 - ANS When your code is compiled (like Java) into something that can be run by the
operating system.
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
3
