Final answer:
The maximum possible information content of a paper tape with 200 columns and up to five holes per column is 125 bytes or 6400 patterns, with the assumption that each hole represents a binary bit of data.
Step-by-step explanation:
The paper tape described in the question is a form of data storage and the maximum possible information content can be calculated based on its specifications. Each column can contain a pattern of up to five holes and there are 200 columns. If we assume that each hole can either be present or not (binary 0 or 1), then each hole represents a bit of information.
Thus, a single column can represent 25 combinations, which is 32 possible patterns. With 200 columns, we can calculate the total information content by multiplying the number of columns with the combinations per column:
Information content = 32 patterns/column × 200 columns = 6400 patterns.
Since one pattern can be considered as one piece of information or 1 byte (8 bits), and we have 5 bits per column, we simply multiply 200 columns by 5 bits to obtain:
Total bits = 200 columns × 5 bits/column = 1000 bits.
As a reminder, one byte equals 8 bits, so to convert the total bits to bytes, we divide by 8:
Total bytes = 1000 bits ÷ 8 bits/byte = 125 bytes.
Hence, the maximum possible information content of the tape with 200 columns, with up to five holes per column, is 125 bytes or 6400 patterns.