Question 1

The model of a phenomenon must capture the full functionality of the real thing.

Accepted Answer

It is not always necessary for a model to capture the full functionality of the real thing, as some simplifications or abstractions may be made for practical reasons, such as ease of computation or clarity of presentation. However, the degree to which a model captures the real phenomenon should be appropriate for the intended use of the model.

Question 2

Prototypes are an important way of studying many physical and social phenomena._________________________

Accepted Answer

- Models

Question 3

There is no limit to the amount of ____________________ available on a Turing machine.

Accepted Answer

memory

Question 4

The equation for the distance d that a moving vehicle travels - the product of rate r and time t - is considered to be a model.

Accepted Answer

The equation for distance as the product of rate and time is a commonly used model in physics and transportation engineering. It may not always be entirely accurate due to factors such as changes in velocity or road conditions, but it is a useful approximation.

Question 5

Each time a Turing machine operation is done, four actions take place._________________________

Accepted Answer

- three

Question 6

A formal basis for mathematical proofs guarantees the presence of intuitive statements.

Accepted Answer

A formal basis for mathematical proofs ensures logical consistency and rigor, but it does not guarantee that the statements will be intuitive; many formal proofs can be counterintuitive or difficult to understand without advanced knowledge.

Question 7

Each individual Turing machine instruction describes an operation that is ____________________, requiring no additional explanation, and any Turing machine is able to carry out the operation described.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Each individual Turing machine instruction describes an...

Question 8

The Turing machine must execute instructions in the order that the instructions are numbered.

Accepted Answer

A Turing machine operates based on the current state and the symbol it reads on the tape, not necessarily executing instructions in a numerical order. The transition function determines the next state and action, which can vary non-linearly.

Question 9

One consequence of a(n) ____________________ problem related to the halting problem is that no program can be written to decide whether any given program always stops eventually, no matter what the input.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One consequence of a(n) ____________________ problem related...

Question 10

In binary representation, any unsigned whole number n is encoded by a sequence of n + 1 1s._________________________

Accepted Answer

- unary

Question 11

In any collection of Turing machine instructions, there can be two different instructions that both begin with the same current state and current symbol.

Accepted Answer

In a deterministic Turing machine, each combination of current state and current symbol uniquely determines the next action (write a symbol, move the head, and change state), so no two instructions can start with the same current state and current symbol.

Question 12

A Turing machine cannot produce output.

Accepted Answer

A Turing machine can produce output by writing symbols on its tape, which can be interpreted as the result of its computation.

Question 13

A Turing machine includes a(n) tape that extends infinitely in both directions._________________________

Accepted Answer

A Turing machine includes a tape that extends infinitely in both directions, allowing it to potentially process an infinite input.

Question 14

Every problem has an algorithmic solution.

Accepted Answer

Some problems, especially those classified as undecidable or those that require creativity, intuition, or subjective judgment, do not have algorithmic solutions that can be executed by computers.

Question 15

The Turing machine contains two separate units, one for input and one for output.

Accepted Answer

The Turing machine model does not inherently have separate units for input or output. It has a tape that serves as both input and output, and a head that reads from and writes to the tape.

Question 16

The bit inverter Turing machine should have two states._________________________

Accepted Answer

- one state

Question 17

The real value of Turing machines as models of computability is in exposing problems that are ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The real value of Turing machines as...

Question 18

Although we can compare two Turing machine algorithms for the same task, we can't really compare the efficiency of a Turing machine algorithm with an algorithm that runs on a "real" computer.

Accepted Answer

A Turing machine is a theoretical model of computation, while a "real" computer is a physical device. The efficiency of a Turing machine algorithm is measured in terms of the number of steps it takes to complete a task, while the efficiency of an algorithm that runs on a "real" computer is measured in terms of the amount of time it takes to complete a task. Since time is not a factor in the Turing machine model, we cannot directly compare the efficiency of a Turing machine algorithm with an algorithm that runs on a "real" computer.

Question 19

Models can only give us information about existing phenomena.

Accepted Answer

Models can not only give us information about existing phenomena but can also be used to predict future outcomes or simulate hypothetical scenarios.

Question 20

A computing agent must be able to act in accordance with ____________________ instructions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A computing agent must be able to...

Quiz 12: Models of Computation