- Input bits: 10
- Agreed encoding
- Meaning: south
background
A bit is a choice between two labels
A classical bit has a value of 0 or 1. A group of bits can encode a number, a letter or an instruction; the interpretation comes from the encoding. Two bits have four possible strings: 00, 01, 10 and 11.
Sources: IBM Quantum Learning
background
An example: four directions
Agree that 00 means north, 01 east, 10 south and 11 west. Reading 10 then tells you south. The two bits do not contain all four directions at once. A program can transform these labels with logical operations.
Sources: IBM Quantum Learning
interpretation
Keep the comparison fair
Classical computers can be parallel and probabilistic. Compare a quantum method with the best appropriate classical method, rather than imagining that every ordinary computer tries answers one at a time.
Sources: IBM
Check your understanding
How many different labels can two bits represent?
Reveal the answer
Four: 00, 01, 10 and 11. In this encoding one observed string specifies one direction.
Sources and review scope
Source-linked. Editorial review: .