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Mathematics, Numbers, and Computers - What Is A Pixel?

What is a pixel?

A pixel is the smallest visual element on a video display screen (i.e. computer terminal or television set). The word "pixel" comes from "pix" (for picture) plus "el" (for element). A video screen contains thousands of pixels, each of which is made up of one or more dots, or a cluster of dots.

On a monochrome (single-color) screen, a pixel is made of one dot. In the simplest monochrome screens, there are only two pixel settings: on and off. Pixels on more complex monochrome screens can be energized to create different intensities of light, which gives a range of shades from light to dark.

On color screens, there are three dot colors included in each pixel—red, green, and blue. Black is created by leaving all three colors off; white, by all three colors on; and a range of grays, by all the colors shining at varying but equal intensities. While the simplest color screens have just one dot of each color per...

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