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Old 02-Mar-2006, 00:20
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Smile Using "Bit" as an amount of time

Does anyone know the amount of time represented by the word "bit". For example... I'll be back in a bit. It is an extra credit question from my son's math teacher. Jiffy was the other word and that is 10 milliseconds. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
-L
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Old 02-Mar-2006, 14:40
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Default Re: Using "Bit" as an amount of time

I don't know of any scientific definition for 'bit'. There are two for jiffy, though:
http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/dictJ.html#jiffy
The same site doesn't give anything for bit.
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Old 02-Mar-2006, 14:52
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Default Re: Using "Bit" as an amount of time

The only scientific use for "bit" that I know is a single binary digit. A bit can be set to 0 or 1; and there are 8 bits in one byte.
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Old 03-Mar-2006, 04:16
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Default Re: Using "Bit" as an amount of time

Me too; and I can't see how that can be used as a measure of time.
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Old 05-Mar-2006, 19:46
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Default Re: Using "Bit" as an amount of time

I didn't even know that "jiffy" had a set time frame. O_o

As for bit, there's no time frame for that, either. I usually think of it as one to two hours:

"I'm going shopping; I'll be back in a bit."
"I'm going to go visit a friend; I'll be back in a bit."
"I've got to go eat; I'll call you back in a bit."
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Old 06-Mar-2006, 00:13
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Default Re: Using "Bit" as an amount of time

I know that scientists often take common words and use them for obscure meanings, as in the Jiffy example quoted.

I was intrigued by your question and just spent some time searching to see if I could find a specific technical use for 'bit', but with no success.

Please post again and tell us what your son's teacher says is the answer!
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Old 06-Mar-2006, 04:54
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Default Re: Using "Bit" as an amount of time

Yes- I'd love to know as well.
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