Data Storage and Compression:
Activity 2.1.1
A solid-state drive has a storage capacity of 250 GB.
What is this in:
megabytes
kilobytes
bytes
bits
An image file has a size of 363,143,213 bits.
Construct an expression to convert its size to megabytes?
A hard disc drive has a capacity of 2.8 TB.
Construct an expression to convert its size into bytes.
Construct an expression to calculate the size of a 24-bit image file displayed at a
resolution of 400 x 250 pixels. Give your answer in kilobytes.
How many bits are there in 3 kilobytes?
Construct an expression to calculate the size of a 15.6 GB video in bits.
Activity 2.1.2
Use the Activity_2.1.2_Files sample files to see the difference compression makes
to file size.
File A File B File C
How many characters does
the file contain?
What type of content does
the file contain?
What is its file size before
compression?
What is its file size after
compression?
What is its compression
ratio (decompressed
size/compressed file size)?
Which file compresses the most? Explain why.
Activity 2.1.3 (Homework)
1. What does file compression do?
2. Give three benefits of file compression.
3. Outline the three strategies for compressing data described in the ‘Honey I
shrunk the data’ game.
Compression method How it works
keep them all and make them small
(lossless)
squeeze them more and open the
door’ (lossy)
‘save the best and scrap the rest’
(superchannel)
4. WinZip is a well know file compression program. Find out what type of
compression it uses.