The Anatomy of a Computer
Learn what a computer is, how it’s different from other machines, and what its main components are.
What is a computer?
Much like a calculator, a computer performs mathematical operations within a fraction of a second. So, how is a computer different from a calculator? A computer is a device that can be programmed to carry out various tasks. A computer is different from other machines, such as calculators, because it can be programmed to solve complex problems as opposed to performing fixed mathematical tasks.
The components of a computer
A computer system is comprised of three key components:
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Central processing unit (CPU)
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Memory
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Input and output devices (I/O devices)
The figure below illustrates the
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