Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

[LocoBoy12315]

Computer storage and memory is measured in 8-bit chunks called bytes. Each computer bit is a switch that is either on or off. When you see a memory dump from a computer, the bits are represented by 0s and 1s. You can think of each bit as being the answer to a yes/no question, with 0 standing for no and 1 for yes. How many bits does it take to code one character from a standard computer keyboard which has 47 alphanumeric keys, each of which can be either unshifted (like lowercase u or the number 4) or shifted (like U or the dollar sign $)? Is this more or less than one byte?

How many bits does it take to identify uniquely every person in the United States (the current population is about 300 million)?

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Please share your work/thoughts about this problem.