Understanding Color Depth

Color depth, measured in bits per pixel (bpp), determines the number of possible colors a display can show. Each bit can represent two states (0 or 1). Therefore, a system with n bits per pixel can represent $2^n$ distinct colors.

Calculating Colors for 16 Bits Per Pixel

The question specifies a color depth of 16 bits per pixel.

• Number of bits per pixel, $n = 16$.
• The total number of available colors is calculated using the formula: Total Colors = $2^n$.
• Substituting the value of $n$: Total Colors = $2^{16}$.
• Calculating the value: $2^{16} = 65,536$.

Therefore, a computer monitor with 16 bits per pixel depth can display 65,536 different colors.