Question
How many flip-flops are required to divide a signal frequency by 16?
Answer Options
- A) 4
- B) 6
- C) 8
- D) 16
Correct Answer: A
Explanation
Digital frequency division in a binary counter is achieved by cascading multiple flip-flops, where the output of one flip-flop acts as the clock input to the next. Since each flip-flop divides the input frequency by two, the total division factor is determined by the number of flip-flops to the power of two (2^N).
To divide a signal frequency by 16, you need to find the number (N) such that 2^N = 16. Since 2^4 = 16, a total of 4 flip-flops are required. Cascading four flip-flops creates a modulus-16 or binary counter, which cycles through 16 unique states (0000 to 1111) before resetting, producing one output pulse for every 16 input clock pulses.
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