Table of Contents
What is Binary? #
- Binary is a way of counting or representing numbers using only two symbols: 0 and 1. It is also known as a “base-2” system.
- Unlike the decimal system (decimal system is the one we use day to day), which uses ten symbols (0 to 9), binary uses only two symbols. Think of it like a special language for numbers where you only have two characters: 0 and 1.
Why Do Computers Use Binary?
- Computers use binary because they operate using electrical signals, which can either be on or off. This is similar to a light switch that can be either up (on) or down (off).
- In binary, the symbol 1 represents the “on” state (current is flowing), and the symbol 0 represents the “off” state (no current is flowing).
- Each binary digit is called a bit. Multiple bits are used together to store and process more complex data.
How Binary Works:
- Binary numbers are written using just 0s and 1s. Each place in a binary number represents a power of 2, similar to how each place in a decimal number represents a power of 10.
You can create your own binary table like the one below. This will help you to easily read and write binary numbers
Example Binary Numbers
| BINARY | DECIMAL VALUE |
| 0001 | 1 |
| 0010 | 2 |
| 0011 | 3 |
| 0100 | 4 |
| 0101 | 5 |
| 0110 | 6 |
| 0111 | 7 |
| 1000 | 8 |
| 1001 | 9 |
| 1010 | 10 |
END OF TOPIC TESTS #
Can you convert these binary numbers to decimal
| BINARY NUMBER | DECIMAL (answer) |
| 100110 | 38 |
| 1101000 | 104 |
| 1010100 | 84 |
| 110100 | 52 |
| 101110010 | 370 |
| 1100100 | 100 |
| 101010 | 42 |
Can you convert these decimal numbers to binary
| DECIMAL | BINARY (answer) |
| 66 | 1000010 |
| 39 | 100111 |
| 92 | 1011100 |
| 104 | 1101000 |
| 27 | 11011 |
| 142 | 10001110 |
| 204 | 11001100 |
