Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Practice Test

A short integer is a data type commonly used in programming and databases that typically holds small numeric values. It is defined to accommodate a range of values that can be represented within a certain number of bits. Specifically, a short integer, which is often stored using 16 bits, can represent values ranging from -32,768 to 32,767. This range allows for both positive and negative numbers, accommodating many applications that require efficient storage of smaller numeric values.

The choice that identifies this specific range as -32,768 to 32,767 accurately reflects the typical limits of a short integer, making it the correct answer. Other ranges mentioned do not correspond to the size and limits of a short integer; for instance, the larger range would be characteristic of a standard integer type rather than a short one.