Computer Science: An Overview: Global Edition (12th Edition)

Published by Pearson Higher Education
ISBN 10: 1292061162
ISBN 13: 978-1-29206-116-0

Chapter 3 - Operating Systems - Section 3.5 - Security - Questions & Exercises - Page 162: 2

Answer

Four is the number of different bit patterns that can be formed using 2 bits. If more privilege levels were required, the designers would need at least 3 bits to represent the different levels and would therefore probably choose to use a total of 8 levels. In the same manner, the natural choice for fewer than 4 privilege levels would be 2, which is the number of patterns that can be represented with 1 bit.

Work Step by Step

Four is the number of different bit patterns that can be formed using 2 bits. If more privilege levels were required, the designers would need at least 3 bits to represent the different levels and would therefore probably choose to use a total of 8 levels. In the same manner, the natural choice for fewer than 4 privilege levels would be 2, which is the number of patterns that can be represented with 1 bit.
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