In this unit, students explore different systems used to represent information in a computer and the challenges and trade-offs posed by using them. They will also learn how collections of data are used to solve problems and how computers help to automate the steps of this process. Learning in this unit will allow students to:

• Understand the role of data and data representation in solving information problems. 
• Explain the necessary components of any data representation scheme, as well as the particulars of binary and the common ways that various types of simple and complex data are represented in binary code. 
• Design and implement a data-based solution to a given problem and determine how the different aspects of the problem-solving process could be automated.

Data and Society