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Which of the following statements best explains binary code's historic significance for the digital computer?

a) Binary code simplified programming.
b) Binary code enabled computers to process and store data in a more efficient manner.
c) Binary code made computers more expensive.
d) Binary code allowed computers to understand natural language.

User OnengLar
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Final answer:

Binary code is historically significant for digital computers because it enabled efficient data processing and storage, facilitated by the invention of the transistor and integrated circuits.

Step-by-step explanation:

Binary code's historical significance in the digital computer revolution is primarily that it enabled digital computers to process and store data in a more efficient manner. Prior to digital computers, analog computers were limited in their data management capabilities. The shift to binary code meant that computers could represent data compactly using just two symbols, '0' and '1', which correspond to the off and on states of transistors. This form of data representation was crucial to the development of efficient computing, as it allowed for the miniaturization and powerful processing capabilities of modern computers through the use of integrated circuits.

The invention of the transistor vastly improved the computing potential of machines as compared to their predecessors with vacuum tubes. Moreover, the development of integrated circuits, which combine multiple transistors on a single piece of silicon, overcame size constraints and led to the significant advancement of computing power.

In summary, binary code was essential for the scaling and enhancement of computer technology, influencing the storage, processing, and transmission of information and underpinning the modern digital age.

User Stackflow
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