data+types

=3.2.3 a=
 * ===define different data types, eg numeric (integer, real), Boolean, character and string; select and use them appropriately in their solutions to problems;===

Intrinsic data types
Intrinsic data types are data types that are defined by a certain programming language. There are lots of different data types. Intrinsic data types are also used to make the storage and processing of data quicker and easier. Different databases and programming systems have there own set of intrinsic data types, but the main ones are:

• Integer;

• Real;

• Boolean;

• String;

• Character;

Integer
An integer is a positive or negative number that is whole. Integers are held in pure binary for processing and storage. Some programming languages

differentiate between short and long integers.

Real
A real data type is a number that is not whole. In many systems, real numbers are referred to as singles and doubles, depending upon the number of bytes in which they are stored.

Boolean
A boolean is a data-type that can store one of only two values – these values are True or False.

String
A string is a series of alphanumeric characters enclosed in quotation marks. A string is sometimes just referred to as ‘text’. Each character within a string will be stored in one byte using its ASCII code; modern systems might store each character in two bytes using its Unicode. The maximum length of a string is limited only by the available memory.

Character
A character is any letter, number, punctuation mark or space, which takes up a single unit of storage (usually a byte).

=3.2.3 c=
 * ===explain the advantages and disadvantages of different data types and data structures for solving a given problem;===

If you want to store the names of students in a class, one way to store them is as name1, name 2, name 3 etc. ... There is one problem and that an input instruction written for every name. The number of names will also have to be fixed. An alternative solution is to use an array. As long as the array is made big enough, it will hold all the names. You could also use a two-dimensial array this would make it easier to keep the two names together as they are always on the same row of a same row of a single array. Incidentally, to output the names in the order first name followed by surname simply output.