Answer from cs61c-ap (Nicole Rungsitiyakorn 13543412) for Question 1
Two MIPS instructions cannot have the same bit pattern if they do not preform the same operation. Firstly, each instruction has an opcode which tells you  whether the instruction is in R, I, or J format. A j aor a jal might jump to the same address but a j will have a 2 in its opcode and a jal will have a 3. Each bit is significant to the instruction. Therefore, you will never have two bit patterns that mean the same.