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Number Systems: Base 2 Binary

Document Reference: TN200901002 - Rev: 4.18 - Last Update: 22-03-2014 02:12 GMT - Downloaded: 19-Mar-2024 10:27 GMT

The binary (aka Base 2) number system was invented by Gottfried Leibniz in 1679 and uses just two symbols for counting and expressing value.

Binary Numbers

Binary Symbols and Values

In the binary number system, the symbols 0 and 1 represent values zero to one. Binary values are usually represented by the subscript '2', subscript 'b', subscript 'B', preceding 'bin', preceding '% 'or preceding '0b'.

Binary Symbols Table

Decimal ValueBinary SymbolPossible Binary Value Representations
0002      or      0b      or      0B      or      bin 0      or      %0      or      0b0
1112      or      1b      or      1B      or      bin 1      or      %1      or      0b1

Binary Digits

Similar to the base 10 system, the right most digit within a binary number is the least significant digit (LSD) and has the lowest place value. As further the digits move to the left, as higher the place value becomes. The right most digit within a binary number is the most significant digit (MSD) and has the highest place value.

Binary Place Values

7. Digit
From Right
6. Digit
From Right
5. Digit
From Right
4. Digit
From Right
3. Digit
From Right
2. Digit
From Right
Right Most
Digit
Power of 2 (2x):26252423222120
Place Value:641032101610810410210110

Place values are shown in decimal (base 10) number system as this is the number system we are most familiar with.

Binary Number Line

Example of a number line displaying binary numbers from -102 to 11002 only:

Binary Number Line

The subscript '2' is not required as the number line is labelled 'Binary Number Line' and is omitted for clarity.

Binary Counting

Binary Counting Example

Counting Bananas in Binary

In above image, let us count all the bananas in binary. We count as follows:

1 … That's it, there is just 12 banana in above image!

Counting Pears in Binary

Now let us count all the pears in binary. We count as follows:

1 … 10 … 11 … That's it, there are 112 pears in above image! Remember not to say eleven, as this would be the decimal pronunciation. Call the number digit by digit, e.g. one – one binary.

Counting Apples in Binary

We can also count all the apples in binary. We count as follows:

1 … 10 … 11 … 100 … 101 … 110 … 111 … 1000 … 1001 … 1010 … 1011 … 1100 … That's it, there are 11002 apples in above image! Again remember not to say one thousand and one hundred, as this would be the decimal pronunciation. Call the number digit by digit, e.g. one – one – zero – zero binary.

Counting All Pieces of Fruit in Binary

Finally we count all the pieces of fruit in binary, count as follows:

1 … 10 … 11 … 100 … 101 … 110 … 111 … 1000 … 1001 … 1010 … 1011 … 1100 … 1101 … 1110 … 1111 … 10000 … That's it, there are a total of 100002 pieces of fruit in above image! Don't say ten thousand, just call it e.g. one – zero – zero – zero – zero binary.

Binary Numbers in Computing

The internal working of almost every modern computing device is based on the binary number system. All CMOS and TTL logic gates operate on simple on or off states that can be noted as binary numbers.

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