umm quick math question

Maverick2002

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2000
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8 bits = 1 byte, so 12mbits = 1.5mbytes, but not really ... isn't 1mbyte = 1,024,000 bytes? So then how many mbytes is 12mbits?
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
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1 megabyte is 1000 *1000 bytes = 1,000,000 bytes.
1 mibibyte is 1024*1024 bytes = 1,048,576 bytes.

Now most people confuse those two things and thus most people say a megabyte is 1,048,576 bytes. What you posted is something in the middle 1024*1000 bytes. There is no defined word for that.

8 megabits is 1 megabyte.
8 mibibits is 1 mibibyte.

12 megabits is 1.5 megabytes.
12 mibibits is 1.5 mibibytes.

12 megabits is 1.43 mibibytes. (12/8) *(1000)^2/(1024)^2 = 1.43
12 mibibits is 1.57 megabytes. (12/8)*(1024)^2/(1000)^2 = 1.57
 

DoNotDisturb

Senior member
Jul 24, 2002
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Originally posted by: Maverick2002
8 bits = 1 byte, so 12mbits = 1.5mbytes, but not really ... isn't 1mbyte = 1,024,000 bytes? So then how many mbytes is 12mbits?

rofl, divide by 8 and then you get how many kbytes you have, u do the rest ;)
 

Maverick2002

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2000
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Umm ok, so following that FAQ, I'm still confused. I don't get the math with 12mbits. Ok so it's 1.5mbytes, or 1,500,000 bytes. Then what? How do I know how many REAL megabytes there are?
 

notfred

Lifer
Feb 12, 2001
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one byte = 8 bits

1 kilobyte = 1024 bytes
1 megabyte = 1024 kilobytes
1 gigabyte = 1024 megabytes
etc...
 

VBboy

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
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Originally posted by: dullard
1 megabyte is 1000 *1000 bytes = 1,000,000 bytes.
1 mibibyte is 1024*1024 bytes = 1,048,576 bytes.

What are you smoking.
1 MB (Megabyte) = 1024 * 1024 bytes
 

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
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Originally posted by: Maverick2002
Umm ok, so following that FAQ, I'm still confused. I don't get the math with 12mbits. Ok so it's 1.5mbytes, or 1,500,000 bytes. Then what? How do I know how many REAL megabytes there are?

just remember this
1kbyte = 1024bytes
1mbyte = 1024kbytes
so on

and 1 byte is 8 bits

 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
Originally posted by: Maverick2002
Umm ok, so following that FAQ, I'm still confused. I don't get the math with 12mbits. Ok so it's 1.5mbytes, or 1,500,000 bytes. Then what? How do I know how many REAL megabytes there are?

1,500,000 Bytes = 1.430511474609375 "real" megabytes.

Viper GTS
 

VBboy

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
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Originally posted by: Maverick2002
Umm ok, so following that FAQ, I'm still confused. I don't get the math with 12mbits. Ok so it's 1.5mbytes, or 1,500,000 bytes. Then what? How do I know how many REAL megabytes there are?

12 Megabits = 12/8 Megabytes = 1.5 Megabytes = 1.5 * 1024 * 1024 bytes. What's so hard to understand?! Kilo is 1024, not 1000, and Mega is 1024*1024, not 1000*1000.

It's not a math question, it's a computer science question, where the definitions are different.
 

Haircut

Platinum Member
Apr 23, 2000
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Originally posted by: VBboy
Originally posted by: dullard
1 megabyte is 1000 *1000 bytes = 1,000,000 bytes.
1 mibibyte is 1024*1024 bytes = 1,048,576 bytes.

What are you smoking.
1 MB (Megabyte) = 1024 * 1024 bytes
No, he's correct. See the FAQ
Mathematically, Mega = 10^6.
In computing it is usually taken that Mega = 2^20, this is not strictly correct hence the definitions of kibi, mebi etc.

 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
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What are you smoking.
1 MB (Megabyte) = 1024 * 1024 bytes
Please read the FAQ, you are making a very common mistake. 1 MiB (Mibibyte) = 1024*1024 bytes. 1 MB (Megabyte) = 1000*1000 bytes. Since the words are so close, most people have switched them around and use the incorrect definition. Even the Windows operating system uses both versions.
Umm ok, so following that FAQ, I'm still confused. I don't get the math with 12mbits. Ok so it's 1.5mbytes, or 1,500,000 bytes. Then what? How do I know how many REAL megabytes there are?
All the necessary and correct answers are in my first post:

12 mbits = 12 megabits = 1.5 megabytes = 1.5 Mbytes = 1.5 MB = 1.5 *1000 * 1000 bytes = 1,500,000 bytes.
 

Maverick2002

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2000
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1,500,000 Bytes = 1.46484375 "real" megabytes.
but that's just 1.5/1.024 ... doesn't make sense, cause then that would mean 1megabyte = 1,024,000bytes.

Which confuses me even more thanks to Dullard's post. Or are the answers just really close because it's a small number?
 

VBboy

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
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I teach Computer Conversion From Bits to Bytes at MIT. I know wtf I'm talking about :)
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: VBboy
I teach Computer Conversion From Bits to Bytes at MIT. I know wtf I'm talking about :)
Then sadly you have been teaching it wrong. Look it up in computer books, or dictionaries, or the Anandtech FAQ. I know that mibibyte and megabyte are easy to confuse, so as a teacher you should make it very clear to your students.
 

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
4
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Originally posted by: dullard
What are you smoking.
1 MB (Megabyte) = 1024 * 1024 bytes
Please read the FAQ, you are making a very common mistake. 1 MiB (Mibibyte) = 1024*1024 bytes. 1 MB (Megabyte) = 1000*1000 bytes. Since the words are so close, most people have switched them around and use the incorrect definition. Even the Windows operating system uses both versions.
Umm ok, so following that FAQ, I'm still confused. I don't get the math with 12mbits. Ok so it's 1.5mbytes, or 1,500,000 bytes. Then what? How do I know how many REAL megabytes there are?
All the necessary and correct answers are in my first post:

12 mbits = 12 megabits = 1.5 megabytes = 1.5 Mbytes = 1.5 MB = 1.5 *1000 * 1000 bytes = 1,500,000 bytes.

dude that's the first time i've heard of "mibi" etc. are u sure that's used these days?! i am pretty sure when most people say megabytes, they mean 2^20 bytes. i can't remember seeing any differently.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
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dude that's the first time i've heard of "mibi" etc. are u sure that's used these days?! i am pretty sure when most people say megabytes, they mean 2^20 bytes. i can't remember seeing any differently.
Simple answers: all hard drive manufacturers use the 1000*1000 definition of MB. Parts of Windows uses it too. So those are a handful of major companies that use it. However you are right 99.9% of individuals use the other incorrect definition, and yes part of Windows uses the wrong one too.
 

Haircut

Platinum Member
Apr 23, 2000
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dude that's the first time i've heard of "mibi" etc. are u sure that's used these days?! i am pretty sure when most people say megabytes, they mean 2^20 bytes. i can't remember seeing any differently.
A lot of people mean 2^20 when they say mega. The correct mathematical definition of mega that has been used since before computers were around is 10^6 it's just that most people use it incorrectly nowadays.
 

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
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Originally posted by: dullard
dude that's the first time i've heard of "mibi" etc. are u sure that's used these days?! i am pretty sure when most people say megabytes, they mean 2^20 bytes. i can't remember seeing any differently.
Simple answers: all hard drive manufacturers use the 1000*1000 definition of MB. Parts of Windows uses it too. So right off the back those are a handful of major companies that use it.

but then ram manufacturers, the software industry all use Megabyte = 2^20?
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
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433
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Originally posted by: Maverick2002
1,500,000 Bytes = 1.46484375 "real" megabytes.
but that's just 1.5/1.024 ... doesn't make sense, cause then that would mean 1megabyte = 1,024,000bytes.

Which confuses me even more thanks to Dullard's post. Or are the answers just really close because it's a small number?

Doh, pasted the wrong number into the calculator.

1500000/1048576 = 1.430511474609375

Viper GTS
 

Maverick2002

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2000
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So the point is, even though it may *technically* be wrong, no one cares, not even Windows? Cause if that's the case I'd rather just leave it as is; makes my life simpler.