Binary system may refer to:

   

Binary numeral system, the base-2 internal "machine language" of computers Binary opposition, a bipolar distinction in philosophy, structuralism and critical theory Binary system (astronomy), a system of two celestial bodies on a mutual orbit In chemistry, a system involving two steps, processes or substances

 

What is the binary system? The word binary describes a system that has only two possible digits. To understand this, lets first compare this to a system youre probably more familiar with, the Decimal system. The word decimal describes a system that has ten possible digits. These are the digits 0 through 9. Every number expressed in the decimal system is a combination of these ten digits. You use the decimal system every day, it comes naturally, we all have 10 fingers and 10 toes (unless your family tree doesnt fork, but lets not go there), and some of us use those 10 fingers and toes extensively to help with every day addition and subtraction. The binary system works essentially the same way, with the only difference that it only has two digits. These are visually expressed by the digits 0 and 1. Every number expressed in the binary system is a combination of these two digits. Why do we need the binary system? The binary system is essential in technology. The reason is that any electronic circuit can have only two possible states, on or off. A simple example is the light in your room. The switch has only two options, on or off. Another example of a binary system would be Morse code. It also works with only two digits, a dot or a dash. Anything expressed in Morse code is done with these two digits. Electronic circuits work the same way, they are either on or off. And every sequence of these two signals has a certain meaning. Every communication that takes place inside your computer uses this binary system.

Number system that uses only two values (0,1; on, off) to Represent codes and data. Since zeros and ones can be easily represented by two voltages, the binary system is the foundation on which digital technology is built. Every digital computer whether a pocket calculator or a mainframe uses the same binary notation.

bINARY SYSTEM

numeration system based on powers of 2, in contrast to the familiar decimal system, which is based on powers of 10. In the binary system, only the digits 0 and 1 are used. Thus, the first ten numbers in binary notation, corresponding to the numbers 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, and 9 in decimal notation, are 0,1,10,11,100,101,110,111,1000, and 1001. Since each position indicates a specific power of 2, just as the number 342 means (3 102) + (4 101) + (2 100), the decimal equivalent of a binary number can be calculated by adding together each digit multiplied by its power of 2; for example, the binary number 1011010 corresponds to (1 26) + (0 25) + (1 24) + (1 23) + (0 22) + (1 21) + (0 20) = 64 + 0 + 16 + 8 + 0 + 2 + 0 = 90 in the decimal system. Binary numbers are sometimes written with a subscript "b" to distinguish them from decimal numbers having the same digits. As with the decimal system, fractions can be represented by digits to the right of the binary point (analogous to the decimal point). A binary number is generally much longer than the decimal equivalent; e.g., the number above, 1011010b, contains seven digits while its decimal counterpart, 90, contains only two. This is a disadvantage for most ordinary applications but is offset by the greater simplicity of the binary system in computer applications. Since only two digits are used, any binary digit, or bit, can be transmitted and recorded electronically simply by the presence or absence of an electrical pulse or current. The great speed of such devices more than compensates for the fact that a given number may contain a large number of digits.