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Binary Basics for Beginners

Binary is a base-2 number system that uses only two digits, 0 and 1, to represent data for computer calculations. It represents numbers by powers of 2, with the rightmost digit being 20=1, the next being 21=2, and so on. To convert a decimal number to binary, repeatedly divide the decimal by 2 and write the remainders as binary digits from right to left until there are no more remainders. For example, 6 in decimal is 110 in binary: 6/2 is 3 with remainder 0, 3/2 is 1 with remainder 1, and 1/2 is 0 with remainder 1. Binary numbers can be counted, added, subtracted, multiplied and divided like decimal numbers.

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16 views1 page

Binary Basics for Beginners

Binary is a base-2 number system that uses only two digits, 0 and 1, to represent data for computer calculations. It represents numbers by powers of 2, with the rightmost digit being 20=1, the next being 21=2, and so on. To convert a decimal number to binary, repeatedly divide the decimal by 2 and write the remainders as binary digits from right to left until there are no more remainders. For example, 6 in decimal is 110 in binary: 6/2 is 3 with remainder 0, 3/2 is 1 with remainder 1, and 1/2 is 0 with remainder 1. Binary numbers can be counted, added, subtracted, multiplied and divided like decimal numbers.

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keeneyzhang23
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Binary

Overview Key Terms


Recall that computers represent data in the form of bits, which are just values that can • binary
be either 0 and 1. In order to perform mathematical calculations with bits, computers • base
use a number system called binary, which is a number system which only uses two • decimal
digits: 0 and 1.

Decimal System
Number Systems
Every number system has a base, which refers to the number of
possible values each digit can take. Most people are used to the
3 2 8 decimal number system, also known as the base 10 system, where
digits can be any value from 0 to 9. In the decimal system, each
100s 10s 1s digit in a number represents a power of 10. The rightmost digit
(3 x 100) + (2 x 10) + (8 x 1) represents the 1s place (which is 10 0). The digit second from the
right is the 10s place (or 10 1). The next digit over is the 100s place
300 + 20 + 8 (or 102). To compute the value of a number, just multiply the digit
328 in each place by the value of the place, and add the numbers
together.
Binary System
Binary is a number system with base 2, where digits can only be
0 to 1. In this system, each place value in a number represents a
1 1 0 power of 2. The rightmost digit is still the 1s place (which is 20).
The next digit over is the 2s place (equal to 2 1). The next digit over
4s 2s 1s is the 4s place (equal to 2 2), and it would continue on: with the 8s
(1 x 4) + (1 x 2) + (0 x 1) place, the 16s place, the 32s place, etc. To compute the value of a
binary number, just multiply the digit in each place (either 1 or 0)
4+2+0 by the value of the place, and add the numbers together. So 110
6 becomes 1x4 + 1x2 + 0x1 = 4 + 2 + 0 = 6.

Counting in Binary Decimal to Binary


Counting in binary is much like counting in decimal, with the
restriction that we’re only allowed to use two digits: 0 and 1. So
0 translated to binary is still 0, and 1 translated to binary is still 1. Decimal Binary
But since binary doesn’t allow the digit 2, in order to represent 2
in binary we need another binary digit. Thus, the number 10 can 0 0
be used to represent 2. Since there is a 1 in the 2s place, and a 0 1 1
in the 1s place, the value of the number is 2x1 + 0x1 = 2. If 2 in
binary is 10, then 3 in binary is 11. 2 10
However, to represent the number 4, we’ve once again run out of 3 11
bits. In order to represent the number, a third bit is required, to
create a value in the 4s place. 100 therefore is the binary repre- 4 100
sentation of the number 4.
5 101
Mathematics that can be performed in the decimal system can
also be performed in binary. Binary numbers can be counted,
6 110
added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided just like numbers in
decimal, and thus can be used by computers in order to execute
7 111
computations and make calculations. 8 1000

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