1. ## Formal Logic

A memory chip from a microcomputer has $2^4$ bistable (ON-OFF) memory elements. What is the total number of ON-OFF configurations?

I have no idea where to start here. The book says:

$2^{2^2} = 2^{16}$

Or something along those lines, the $2^{16}$ is there, but I'm not sure that that's how they arranged the twos, either way, it confuses me.

Should it be:

$2^{4^2} = 2^{16}$?

2. Originally Posted by Aryth
A memory chip from a microcomputer has $2^4$ bistable (ON-OFF) memory elements. What is the total number of ON-OFF configurations?

I have no idea where to start here. The book says:

$2^{2^2} = 2^{16}$

Or something along those lines, the $2^{16}$ is there, but I'm not sure that that's how they arranged the twos, either way, it confuses me.

Should it be:

$2^{4^2} = 2^{16}$?
The number of configurations of $N$ bits is $2^N$, in this case $N=2^4$, so the number of configurations is $2^{2^4}=2^{16}.$

RonL

3. That makes a lot more sense.

The book's answer threw me off.

Thanks.