Approximately how much bigger (how many more bytes) is a megabyte than a kilobyte?

Study for the AP Computer Science Principles Exam. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question includes hints and detailed explanations. Get ready for the exam!

A megabyte is defined as 1,024 kilobytes in the binary system commonly used in computing. This means that a megabyte is 1,024 times larger than a kilobyte. Although the question might imply a comparison using a base of 1,000, which is typical in some contexts outside of computing, in the realm of data storage, the correct understanding is based on the binary measurement.

In practical terms, if you take into account that 1 kilobyte (KB) is 1,024 bytes, then:

1 megabyte (MB) = 1,024 kilobytes (KB) × 1,024 bytes (per KB) = 1,024 × 1,024 bytes = 1,048,576 bytes.

Thus, when specifically discussing data sizes in bytes, a megabyte is significantly more than just 1,000 times a kilobyte; it is actually 1,024 times larger. Therefore, the better understanding relies on the fact that this measurement adheres to the binary system's conventions, making a conversion based strictly on decimal values somewhat misleading in computing contexts.

In this scenario, the reasoning behind the magnitudes often aligns with the binary increases and may

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