Binary: Difference between revisions

From Computer Science Wiki
 
(24 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 5: Line 5:


== Binary ==  
== Binary ==  
This is one of the better videos I've seen on binary.  
This is one of the better videos I've seen on binary. Content gratefully used with permission :  <ref>http://cs50.tv/2015/fall/#license,psets</ref>




Line 12: Line 12:
</html>
</html>


== Binary Translation table ==  
== Basic Definitions ==
I find it helpful to draw this table when I must convert binary to [[base 10]].  
 
* '''bit''': The bit represents a logical state with one of two possible values
* '''byte''': A group of 8 adjacent binary digits (8 bits), on which a computer operates as a unit
* '''binary''': The binary numeral system is a base 2 number system.
* '''denary/decimal''': The decimal numeral system (also called base 10 or occasionally denary) has ten as its base.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimal</ref>
* '''hexadecimal''': In mathematics and computing, hexadecimal (also base 16, or hex) is a positional numeral system with a radix, or base, of 16<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexadecimal</ref>. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrFHGtGdOzA Click here for an excellent video about hexidecimal]
 
== Binary translation table ==  
I find it helpful to draw this table when I must convert binary to [[base 10]]. It also helps when looking at the video above.  
{| style="width: 95%;" class="wikitable"
{| style="width: 95%;" class="wikitable"
|-style="text-align:center;"
|-style="text-align:center;"
Line 20: Line 28:
|<br /> || || || || || || ||
|<br /> || || || || || || ||
|}
|}
== A helpful cheat sheet ==
<br />
[[File:NumberSystems.png|400px]]
<br />




Line 41: Line 55:
You must be able to correctly answer the following questions:  
You must be able to correctly answer the following questions:  


<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
* Define the term:  '''bit'''  
Define the term:  '''bit'''? Click the expand link --->
* Define the term:  '''byte'''
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
* Define the term:  '''binary'''
A bit, is the basic unit of information in computing and digital communications.  A bit can have only one of two values, and may therefore be physically implemented with a two-state device. These values are most commonly represented as either a 0 or 1. The term bit is a portmanteau of binary digit.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bit</ref>
* Define the term: '''denary/decimal''' (they refer to the same thing)
</div>
* Define the term:  '''hexadecimal'''
</div>


== Why is this so important? ==


If we can represent numbers as '''1 and 0''', why not represent numbers as '''on and off'''? If we can represent letters as numbers (A = 65, B = 66) couldn't we also say A =  01000001 and B = 01000010? We can follow this line of thinking and make north / south, up / down, and low / high. Simple constructions that we can use to represent more complex numbers and even letters.


Binary representation is the essence of how computers work.


<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
== Resources ==
Define the term:  '''byte'''? Click the expand link --->
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
The byte is a unit of digital information that most commonly consists of eight bits. Historically, the byte was the number of bits used to encode a single character of text in a computer and for this reason it is the smallest addressable unit of memory in many computer architectures. The size of the byte has historically been hardware dependent and no definitive standards existed that mandated the size. The de facto standard of eight bits is a convenient power of two permitting the values 0 through 255 for one byte. The international standard IEC 80000-13 codified this common meaning. Many types of applications use information representable in eight or fewer bits and processor designers optimize for this common usage. The popularity of major commercial computing architectures has aided in the ubiquitous acceptance of the 8-bit size.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byte</ref>
</div>
</div>


binary
[[Media:9781284069501 PPTx Chapter02.ppt | Click here for a slide deck that covers this topic nicely]]


denary/decimal
== References ==


hexadecimal
<references />


[[Media:Binary conversion.pdf | Click here to test yourself]]
== Why is this so important? ==
If we can represent numbers as '''1 and 0''', why not represent numbers as '''on and off'''? If we can represent letters as numbers (A = 65, B = 66) couldn't we also say A =  01000001 and B = 01000010?
Binary representation is the essence of how computers work.
== Resources ==
[[Media:9781284069501 PPTx Chapter02.ppt | Click here for a slide deck that covers this topic nicely]]


[[Category:Binary]]
[[Category:computer organization]]
[[Category:Very important ideas in computer science]]
[[Category:Very important ideas in computer science]]

Latest revision as of 09:07, 22 October 2020

This is a basic concept in computer science

In mathematics and digital electronics, a binary number is a number expressed in the binary numeral system or base-2 numeral system which represents numeric values using two different symbols: typically 0 (zero) and 1 (one). The base-2 system is a positional notation with a radix of 2. Because of its straightforward implementation in digital electronic circuitry using logic gates, the binary system is used internally by almost all modern computers and computer-based devices. Each digit is referred to as a bit.[1]


Binary[edit]

This is one of the better videos I've seen on binary. Content gratefully used with permission : [2]


Basic Definitions[edit]

  • bit: The bit represents a logical state with one of two possible values
  • byte: A group of 8 adjacent binary digits (8 bits), on which a computer operates as a unit
  • binary: The binary numeral system is a base 2 number system.
  • denary/decimal: The decimal numeral system (also called base 10 or occasionally denary) has ten as its base.[3]
  • hexadecimal: In mathematics and computing, hexadecimal (also base 16, or hex) is a positional numeral system with a radix, or base, of 16[4]. Click here for an excellent video about hexidecimal

Binary translation table[edit]

I find it helpful to draw this table when I must convert binary to base 10. It also helps when looking at the video above.

128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

A helpful cheat sheet[edit]


NumberSystems.png


How to add two binary numbers[edit]

Adding binary is straight forward. Line up the numbers as you would if you were adding base-10 numbers.

Remember this:

0 + 0 = 0

0 + 1 = 1

1 + 0 = 1

1 + 1 = 10, so write a 0 and carry the 1 to the next column.

What you must know[edit]

You must be able to correctly answer the following questions:

  • Define the term: bit
  • Define the term: byte
  • Define the term: binary
  • Define the term: denary/decimal (they refer to the same thing)
  • Define the term: hexadecimal

Why is this so important?[edit]

If we can represent numbers as 1 and 0, why not represent numbers as on and off? If we can represent letters as numbers (A = 65, B = 66) couldn't we also say A = 01000001 and B = 01000010? We can follow this line of thinking and make north / south, up / down, and low / high. Simple constructions that we can use to represent more complex numbers and even letters.

Binary representation is the essence of how computers work.

Resources[edit]

Click here for a slide deck that covers this topic nicely

References[edit]