Computer number format still split that memory into eight-bit pieces. This is called byte-addressable memory. Historically, many CPUs read data in some multiple of eight bits. Because the byte size of eight bits is so common, but the definition is not standardized, the term octet is sometimes used to explicitly describe an eight bit sequence. A "nibble" (sometimes "nybble"), is a number composed of four bits. Being a half-byte, the nibble was named as a play on words. A person may need several nibbles for one bite from something; similarly, a nybble is a part of a byte. Because four bits allow for
Stochastic computing Stochastic computing Stochastic computing is a collection of techniques that represent continuous values by streams of random bits. Complex computations can then be computed by simple bit-wise operations on the streams. Stochastic computing is distinct from the study of randomized algorithms. Suppose that formula_1 is given, and we wish to compute formula_2. Stochastic computing performs this operation using probability instead of arithmetic. Specifically, suppose that there are two random, independent bit streams called "stochastic number"s (i.e. Bernoulli processes), where the probability of a one in the first stream is formula_3, and the probability in the second stream is formula_4. We