Question about my digicam megapixel (confused newbie)

[identityless]

I have a 2.1 MP di-cam. The resolutions it can take are:
2048x1536
1600x1200
1280x960
800x600
So, those are the pixel size for which the 2.1 MP cam can take right? Does this means if I were to take a resolution size of 800x600 on my cam, the picture would be a 2.1 MP photo with the 800x600 pixel size right? Similarly, if I were to take photos with 2048x1536 resolution, it would still be 2.1 MP but with a larger size right?

However, on my cam manual it says it has a 3 MP enhanced resolution (interpolated). What does it really means by interpolated? Does it this if I were to take my photo with a 2048x1536 resolution, it can produce a 3.0 MP image?

Thanks.

 

[Zerstorer]

800x600 is only 480000pixels or 0.48MP.

2048x1536 is essentially the interpolated 3MP its is referring to. By interpolated, it means that the camera doesn't actually have that number of sensors...the image is more or less resized to that output resolution.

1600x1200 is probably the largest uninterpolated resolution of the camera.

 

[showtime]

mega pixel means "million pixels"
its like area we learn in math in primary school
length x breadth = area

so multiply the the 2 values to get area...
so thats mega pixel value
and of course remember the decimal point...
hehe

2.1 is the best non interpolated resolution of your cam..

 

[AReality]

Does this means if I were to take a resolution size of 800x600 on my cam, the picture would be a 2.1 MP photo with the 800x600 pixel size right?

if you set to 800x600, only 0.48 million pixels will be used to capture the image.
The image will still be the same as taken with 1600x1200 (meaning no cropping)