Method 1: Converting UP (smaller to larger units)
Divide by 1,024 for each step up
- Bytes → KB: Divide by 1,024
- KB → MB: Divide by 1,024
- MB → GB: Divide by 1,024
- GB → TB: Divide by 1,024
Example 1: Convert 5,120 KB to MB
5,120 KB ÷ 1,024 = 5 MB
Example 2: Convert 3,072 MB to GB
3,072 MB ÷ 1,024 = 3 GB
Method 2: Converting DOWN (larger to smaller units)
Multiply by 1,024 for each step down
- TB → GB: Multiply by 1,024
- GB → MB: Multiply by 1,024
- MB → KB: Multiply by 1,024
- KB → Bytes: Multiply by 1,024
Example 3: Convert 2 GB to MB
2 GB × 1,024 = 2,048 MB
Example 4: Convert 4 MB to bytes
4 MB × 1,024 = 4,096 KB
4,096 KB × 1,024 = 4,194,304 bytes
Shortcut: Jumping Multiple Levels
- MB → Bytes: Multiply by 1,024 × 1,024 = 1,048,576
- GB → Bytes: Multiply by 1,024 × 1,024 × 1,024 = 1,073,741,824
- Bytes → MB: Divide by 1,048,576
Example 5: Convert 500,000,000 bytes to MB
500,000,000 ÷ 1,048,576 ≈ 476.84 MB
This key facts covers Conversion Calculations - Step by Step within Storage Units for GCSE Computer Science. Revise Storage Units in 3.3 Data Representation for GCSE Computer Science with 15 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 5 of 10 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Storage Units
How many bits make up one nibble?
Explain what is meant by colour depth and describe how increasing the colour depth affects both the image quality and the file size.