The Binary System

 The positive integers represented by the sequence of 1s and 0s are known as the binary numbers or the
base 2 numbers.
 Whereas the base 10 numbers are known as denary numbers.
 A typical binary value is a string of 0s and 1s e.g. 0101010000
 Computer has to translate every single instruction into Binary

Why does computer store data in binary?

 Computer uses logic circuit / switches

 They work in only two states / On or Off / True or False / 1 or 0

Base 10 Headings:

Base 2 Headings:

Explain the differences between binary and denary system

 A binary number system is a base-2 system denary number system is a base-10 system
 A binary number system uses 0 and 1 values/ denary number system uses 0 to 9 values
 A binary number system has units / that increase by the power of 2
 A denary number system has units that increase by the power of 10
 Binary has more digit for the same value / Denary has less digits for the same value

Converting from Binary to Denary

Binary Number: 110101

128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20
1 1 0 1 0 1
32 16 0 4 0 1
32+16+0+4+0+1= 53

Denary Based number =53

Converting from Denary to Binary

Denary number = 107

Number 107 So 128 0

107-64 =43 So 64 1

43- 32 =11 So 32 1

So 16 0

11-8 =3 So 8 1

So 4 0

3-2 =1 So 2 1

1-1 =0 So 1 1
Measuring memory size

Storage is measured in bytes

Unit of measurement Abbreviation Conversion

Nibble 4 bits
Byte B 8 bits
Kilobyte KB 1024 bytes
Megabyte MB 1024 KB
Gigabyte GB 1024 MB
Terabyte TB 1024 GB
Petabyte PB 1024 TB

Using binary in computer registers

Register:

 Small piece of memory built in CPU where values and instructions can be temporarily stored
 Small in capacity, extremely fast read and write rate
 Types:
o Processor registers. Program counter PC, accumulator, memory address register MAR
o Hardware registers. Used to convey signals. Example: in robot to open and close the grip, a signal(1/0) is
sent to the motor.
Example use of binary
If the register contains 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 this means ‘motor B is ON and motor C is ON

and both motors are turning to produce FORWARDS motion’. Effectively, the

vacuum cleaner is moving forwards.

 Hexadecimal number system
The hexadecimal system (base 16) counts in multiplies of 16

Digits 0 to 9 and letters A to F are used (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F)

Converting From Binary to Hexadecimal

101111100001

Split into group of 4 bits 1011 1110 0001

Convert each group to denary 11 14 1

Convert each denary to hexa B E 1

The hexadecimal value is B E 1

Converting from Hexadecimal to Binary

Use the table

Hexadecimal A 0 2 B

Denary 10 0 2 11

Binary 1010 0000 0010 1011