Which prefixes denote binary-based data units, such as kibibyte and mebibyte?

Which prefixes denote binary-based data units, such as kibibyte and mebibyte?

• A. KIBI-, MEBI-, GIBI- denote binary-based data units
• B. KILO-, MEGA-, GIGA- denote binary-based units
• C. TERA-, PETA-, EXA- denote decimal-based units
• D. None of the above

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the difference between binary-based prefixes and decimal-based ones. Binary-based prefixes use powers of two, so kibi-, mebi-, and gibi- denote 2^10, 2^20, and 2^30, respectively. That’s why units like KiB, MiB, and GiB are unambiguous in computing. The other prefixes are decimal-based, using powers of ten (kilo-, mega-, giga-). For larger sizes, the binary equivalents exist as tebi-, pebi-, and exbi- (TiB, PiB, EiB). So the prefixes that denote binary-based data units are kibi-, mebi-, and gibi-.

The key idea is the difference between binary-based prefixes and decimal-based ones. Binary-based prefixes use powers of two, so kibi-, mebi-, and gibi- denote 2^10, 2^20, and 2^30, respectively. That’s why units like KiB, MiB, and GiB are unambiguous in computing. The other prefixes are decimal-based, using powers of ten (kilo-, mega-, giga-). For larger sizes, the binary equivalents exist as tebi-, pebi-, and exbi- (TiB, PiB, EiB). So the prefixes that denote binary-based data units are kibi-, mebi-, and gibi-.