What is the impact of switching from 32-bit to 64-bit integers for counting plays of a video?

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!

Switching from 32-bit to 64-bit integers significantly increases the range of values that can be represented. A 32-bit integer can hold values ranging from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647, which is a total of approximately 4.29 billion distinct values. In contrast, a 64-bit integer can represent a vastly larger range, going from approximately -9.22 x 10^18 to 9.22 x 10^18, resulting in approximately 18.4 quintillion distinct values.

To understand this in terms of how many more values can be represented, consider that each bit doubles the number of possible values. With a 32-bit integer, there are 2^32 distinct values. Therefore, moving to a 64-bit integer allows for 2^64 distinct values. The difference between the number of values that can be represented by a 64-bit integer and a 32-bit integer is 2^64 divided by 2^32. This simplifies to 2^(64-32), or 2^32, which is approximately 4.29 billion times more values.

Thus, the correct answer highlights that switching to a 64-bit integer

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