Question

c) One little used encoding for integers is binary coded decimal (BCD). One variation of BCD takes a number written in decimal (base-10) notation and records each numeral in 4 bits. Explain one important disadvantage of BCD encoding.

Answer 1

Answer:

In BCD encoding any one decimal numeral can be represented by a four bit pattern,so this technique also called as

"8 4 2 1" technique. ex:     6 can be represented in --- > 8 4 2 1

                                                                                                     0 1 1 0.

Disadvantage:

                     BCD requires "four" bits per each digit, so roughly 20 percent more space is used than a normal binary encoding.hence there is difficulty to represent BCD from in hight speed digital computers,especially when size and capacity of their internal registers are restricted or limited.