A Level Computer Science OCR Practice Exam

What does bitwise manipulation involve?

1. Adding numbers in base 10

2. Manipulating decimal digits

3. Algorithmically manipulating bits

4. Shifting bits in a memory register

The correct answer is: Algorithmically manipulating bits

Bitwise manipulation specifically refers to operations that directly manipulate individual bits within a binary representation of data. This includes operations like AND, OR, XOR, NOT, and bit shifts. These operations are fundamental in programming and computer science, as they allow for efficient data processing and control at the most granular level. Choosing the option related to algorithmically manipulating bits captures the essence of bitwise manipulation. It highlights the intent to directly interact with the bits that make up binary data, allowing for optimizations and specific control that aren't possible with higher-level data representations. While shifting bits in memory and operations involving arithmetic or decimal values are related concepts, they don't encompass the broad scope of what bitwise manipulation entails. Thus, focusing on the algorithmic aspect of manipulating bits accurately represents the core of this practice in computer science.