Binary Numbers

What are binary numbers?

  • A binary number is made up of 0s and 1s

  • Example: 110101

  • Many uses in computer science, math, etc.

  • Computer data is represented in binary

  • How to count:

    • Start with 0, 1, now what?

    • There's no "2" in binary

    • After 1, we go to 10 (add a 0, just like how in decimal counting, 10 is after 9)

Use in Computer Science

Try this interactive activity to become more familiar with binary numbers!

Learn more (highly recommended)

After reviewing the resources above, try the quiz!

Quiz Answers and Explanations

Quiz Answers and Explanations:

  1. B - binary number system consists of 0s and 1s

  2. C - since we can’t use 2s, add in another place holder and add 0s -- 1000

  3. B - 76 = 64 + 8 + 4 = 2^6 + 2^3 + 2^2; as a binary number it is 1001100

  4. D - 193 = 128 + 64 + 1 = 2^7 + 2^6 + 2^0; as a binary number it is 11000001

  5. C - 101 to binary form is 2^0 (1) + 2^2 (1) = 5

  6. A - 11100 tot binary form is 2^2(1) + 2^3(1) + 2^4(1) = 28