Edited Mr. D.

Watkis

What is a binary number?

A binary number is a number that includes

only ones and zeroes.

The number could be of any length
The following are all examples of binary
numbers
0 10101
1 0101010
10
1011110101
01
0110101110
111000 000111

Another name for binary is base-2

(pronounced "base two")

What is a decimal
number?
The numbers that we are used to seeing are

called decimal numbers.

decimal numbers consist of the digits from 0
(zero) through 9.
The following are examples of decimal #'s
3
15
890

76
32423234
53

Another name for decimal numbers are base-

10 (pronounced "base ten") numbers.

Equivalence of Binary and

Decimal

Every Binary number has a corresponding

Decimal value (and vice versa)

Examples:

Binary Number Decimal Equivalent

11
10
2
11
3

1010111
87
4

The value of a binary

number
Even though they look exactly the same, the

value of the binary number, 101, is different

from the value of the decimal number, 101.
The value of the binary number, 101, is equal to

the decimal number five (i.e. 5)

The value of the decimal number, 101, is equal to
one hundred and one

When you see a number that consists of only

ones and zeroes, you must be told if it is a

binary number or a decimal number.
5

All information on computers is

stored as numbers
All information that is processed by computers is

converted in one way or another into a sequence of

numbers. This includes
numeric information
textual information and
Pictures

(Well see later how text and pictures can be converted

into simple numbers for now just take our word for it.)
Therefore, if we can derive a way to store and retrieve

numbers electronically this method can be used by

computers to store and retrieve any type of
information.

How does a CD store

information?

For detailed information about a CD works,

see the following URL:
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cd.htm

This presentation will only focus on the very

basics.

Information is stored using binary

numbers
A binary number is simply a bunch of 1s and

0s

CDs that are created in a factory (were not

talking about CD-Rs yet) may look perfectly

flat. However, there are many microscopic
bumps on the surface of the CD.

The bumps are laid out in a spiral form on the

surface of the CD.

Converting from binary to

decimal
Each position for a binary number has a value.
For each digit, multiply the digit by its position

value
Add up all of the products to get the final result
The decimal value of binary 101 is computed
below:
4
2
1
--------------------------------------

1X1
0X2
1X4
---5

=1
=4

=0

11

What about a longer

number?
In general, the "position values" in a

binary number are the powers of two.

The
The
The
The
The
etc.

first position value is 20

2nd position value is 21
2nd position value is 22
2nd position value is 23
2nd position value is 24

,
,
,
,
,

i.e.
i.e.
i.e.
i.e.
i.e.

one
two
four
eight
sixteen

Example on next slide

12

Example
The value of binary 01100001 is decimal 105. This is

worked out below:

128
64
32
16
8
4
2
1
----------------------------------------------------------------------

01

1X1
0X2
0X4
1X8
0 X 16
1 X 32
1 X 64
0 X 128
---Answer:

=1
=
=
=
=
=
=

0
8
0
32
64
0

=0

105
13

Another example
The value of binary 10011100 is decimal 156. This is

worked out below:

128
64
32
16
8
4
2
1
----------------------------------------------------------------------

10

0X1
0X2
1X4
1X8
1 X 16
0 X 32
0 X 64
1 X 128
---Answer:

=0
=
=
=
=
=
=

4
8
16
0
0
128

=0

156
14

Some Terminology
The following are some terms that are used in

the computer field

Each digit of a binary number is called a bit.
A binary number with eight bits (i.e. digits) is

called a byte.

15

How many different

numbers?
There are two different binary numbers with one
bit:
0
1

There are four different binary numbers with two

bits:
00
01
10
11

(i.e.
(i.e.
(i.e.
(i.e.

decimal
decimal
decimal
decimal

0)
1)
2)
3)
16

How many different

numbers?
There are eight different binary numbers with
three bits:
000
001
010
011
100
101
110
111

(i.e.
(i.e.
(i.e.
(i.e.
(i.e.
(i.e.
(i.e.

decimal 0)
decimal 1)
decimal 2)
decimal 3)
decimal 4)
decimal 5)
decimal 6)
(i.e. decimal 7)
17

# different
numbers
- numbers:
n bits there are
2 different binary
General
Rule
# of bits # of different binary numbers

For

1 bit:
2 bits:
3 bits:
4 bits:
5 bits:
6 bits:
7 bits:
8 bits:
9 bits:
10 bits:
etc.

21 = 2
22 = 4
23 = 8
24 = 16
25 = 32
26 = 64
27 = 128
28 = 256
29 = 512
210 = 1024

18

Largest value for a binary

#
The largest value for a binary number with a
specific number of bits (i.e. digits) is when all
of the bits are one.
General rule: for a binary number with n bits,

the largest possible value is : 2n - 1

19

Largest numbers
The following are the largest values for binary

numbers with a specific number of bits:

# of bits
1 bit:
2 bits:
3 bits:
4 bits:
5 bits:
6 bits:
7 bits:
8 bits:
etc.

largest binary # decimal value

1
1
11
3
111 7
1111 15
1111131
111111
1111111
11111111

63
127
255

20

Converting a decimal# to a
binary#
(1)
To convert the decimal number 20 to binary:
Step 1: Divide it by two and record the remainder
Step 2: Divide the previous answer by two and again

record the remainder

Step 3: Continue this process till you reach the

number 1.

Step 4: 1 cannot be divided into 2 and return a whole

number so the write down 0 (zero) and carry down 1

in the remainder.

21

Why is it called "binary" (or

base-2)?

The prefix "bi" means "two" in Latin

Binary derives its name from the fact that the

digits in a "Binary" number can only have two

possible values, 0 or 1

It is also called "base-2" based on the fact

that the column values are the powers of 2.

(i.e. 20 21 22 23 24 25 etc. )

22

Converting a decimal# to a
binary#
(2)

Convert the decimal # 20 to binary

2

20

10

Writing down the remainder from bottom to

top. Answer = 10100

23