How accurate is a computer? Is it 99.9% accurate or 100% accurate?

Answer 1

the phase you need to remember is G.I.G.O
garbage in garbage out.

Answer 2

There is no good answer to your question. That would be like asking, "How reliable is an automobile?" It depends on the computer, and the User! Of course, there are some more reliable and accurate than others. For example, Windows 98 Operating system users often encounter the "Blue Screen of Death". After the BSOD, especially with disastrous hard drive errors, the "accuracy" is nearly 0% because the data is unreadable garbage. There are at least 4 ways where computer errors are subject to be increased:
1. Hardware errors. CDroms get scratched. Hard drives collect dust, or moisture damage, for example.
2. Software. Operating Systems cause errors, as do applications. Often they are called "bugs" Microsoft publishes hundreds of bug fixes per year..but they dont get them all.
3. User Errors. People push wrong buttons. Others are not trained, or careless.
4. Malware. Hackers cause all kinds of errors/problems.

Answer 3

There are a lot of answers to that.

In dealing with logic and integer math, they are 100% accurate within their limitations (there are restrictions on max integer size that can be handled natively).

Floating point numbers are represented as approximations. So FP math is subject to some error, depending on how it's implemented.

If you extend the concept of "computer" past the CPU and instructions to include other hardware, such as communications with other dievices, disks and CDs, then there are more opportunity for flaws. Disk surfaces can degrade and read/write errors can be introduced because of electrical anomalies. This will introduce errors into the data.

They are perfect at following instructions. And I think you may confused the computer accuracy with program accuracy. A computer can follow a program perfectly, but if that program is flawed, then the results will be flawed.

A Caveat to all of this is exemplified by the first generation of Intel Pentium chips. A defect in the microprocessor design caused floating point calculations to be wrong. I believe it tracked back to a logarithm table stored on the chip itself that assisted in calculations. I got bit by this and sent my chip back to Intel for a replacement.

This is a long-winded way of saying "it depends" :-)

Answer 4

a computer is 100% accurate and somtimes 99.9% accurate at sertin other things.

hope this answers yout question

Answer 5

Depends on what you mean by accurate, but IMHO they are not 100% accurate.

Answer 6

A computer only reacts to the programs installed on it. Therefore it is the accuracy of the programs installed that you should perhaps be questioning.

Answer 7

At What?