Final answer:
Using 3 bits of memory, the scan converter can represent 8 different shades of gray because 2 to the power of 3 equals 8.
Step-by-step explanation:
If 3 bits of memory are available in a scan converter, the greatest number of shades of gray that can be represented is 8. This is because each bit can have two possible values (0 or 1), and with 3 bits, you can have 23 combinations, which equals 8 different shades. Therefore, the answer is b. 8.
The number of shades of gray in a scan converter is determined by the number of bits of memory available. Each bit can have two possible states: 0 or 1. So, with 3 bits of memory, there are 2^3, or 8, possible combinations. Each combination represents a shade of gray. Therefore, the greatest number of shades of gray that can be present in the scan converter is 8. Answer: b. 8