Define database, list three business uses, state five advantages over paper systems, and list five DBMS functions.

a) i) Define Database A database is an organized collection of structured information or data, typically stored electronically in a computer system, designed for efficient storage, retrieval, and management of data.

a) ii) Give three areas where databases may be used in business

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM): To store and manage customer details, purchase history, and interactions.
• Inventory Management: To track stock levels, product information, and supplier data.
• Financial Accounting: To manage transactions, ledgers, and financial records.

b) i) State five advantages that modern database systems have over paper-based systems

• Reduced Data Redundancy: Data is stored once, minimizing duplication and inconsistencies.
• Improved Data Consistency: Enforces rules and constraints to ensure data accuracy across the system.
• Enhanced Data Security: Provides mechanisms for access control, encryption, and backup/recovery.
• Faster Data Retrieval: Allows quick and efficient searching, sorting, and querying of large datasets.
• Better Data Sharing: Multiple users can access and update data concurrently, facilitating collaboration.

b) ii) STATE five major functions of DBMS in computerized information processing

• Data Definition: Allows users to define the structure of the database, including data types, relationships, and constraints.
• Data Manipulation: Provides tools for inserting, updating, deleting, and retrieving data (e.g., using SQL).
• Data Security and Integrity: Manages user access, permissions, and ensures data accuracy and consistency through validation rules.
• Data Storage Management: Handles the physical storage of data on disk and manages access to it.
• Data Backup and Recovery: Provides utilities to create backups and restore the database in case of system failure or data loss.

a) Describe the octal number system. The octal number system is a base-8 number system that uses eight distinct digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Each position in an octal number represents a power of 8. It is often used as a compact way to represent binary numbers, as three binary digits can be represented by a single octal digit.

b) Convert each of the following to the number system indicated:

• i) $111.101_2$ to decimal To convert $111.101_2$ to decimal:

  $$1 \times 2^2 + 1 \times 2^1 + 1 \times 2^0 + 1 \times 2^{-1} + 0 \times 2^{-2} + 1 \times 2^{-3}$$ $$= 1 \times 4 + 1 \times 2 + 1 \times 1 + 1 \times 0.5 + 0 \times 0.25 + 1 \times 0.125$$ $$= 4 + 2 + 1 + 0.5 + 0 + 0.125$$ $$= 7 + 0.625$$ $$= 7.625_{10}$$

  The decimal equivalent is $\boxed{\text{7.625}}$.

• ii) $14.6875_{10}$ to binary Convert the integer part ($14_{10}$): $14 \div 2 = 7$ remainder 0 $7 \div 2 = 3$ remainder 1 $3 \div 2 = 1$ remainder 1 $1 \div 2 = 0$ remainder 1 Reading remainders upwards: $1110_2$

  Convert the fractional part ($0.6875_{10}$):
  $0.6875 \times 2 = 1.375 \rightarrow 1$
  $0.375 \times 2 = 0.75 \rightarrow 0$
  $0.75 \times 2 = 1.5 \rightarrow 1$
  $0.5 \times 2 = 1.0 \rightarrow 1$
  Reading integer parts downwards: $0.1011_2$

  Combining both parts: $1110.1011_2$
  The binary equivalent is $\boxed{\text{1110.1011}}$.

c) Convert the number $-17_{10}$ into 8-bit signed magnitude representation