Binary Number System
Learning the Binary Code System couldn’t be easier with the system you are about to read.
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Typically when trying to convert binary into numbers people refer to a chart of some sort to get their numbers. From now on you will be able to convert numbers into Binary and Binary into numbers within seconds.
What you need to learn is the Binary Code. Essentially all you need to do is memorize the numbers 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256 etc… The pattern here is add the number to itself to get the next number. It’s that easy. 1 plus 1 is 2. 2 + 2 is four, 4 + 4 is 8 etc…
The Binary Code is a series of 1′s and 0′s (ones and zeros).
A binary number looks like this: 110011
Remember those numbers I should you? 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 etc?
When you are learning the binary code, all I ask you to do is write the numbers in reverse. So:
See how this is written? We start with 1, then 2, 4, 8, 16 etc and it is done right to left. This is important as it makes learning the Binary Number System a piece of cake.
Now what you need to do is image underneath the Binary Number System is putting either a 1 or a 0 (one or a zero) under each number, starting from the right to the left.
So if we were to put a 0 underneath the number 1 in the chart above, then a number 1 under number two above, then another 1 above number four we would have an image like this:
Where 1 1 0 is the Binary Number.
So how do we convert 110 into a number? Simple. Wherever there is a 1 add the numbers above it together. In this case add the 4 and 2 giving 6.
Therefore 110 in binary is 6 in decimal.
So how about doing this in reverse? What is 22 in binary? What we need to do is put a 1 underneath all the numbers that will allow us to add up to 22. We can’t use 32 as it is over 22. We can use 16 and the numbers below. But we need to use the numbers until they add up to 22.
So let’s try it.
16 + 8 = 24 so that brings us over 22 and we know then we can’t use 8 next.
16 + 4 = 20. Ok so we are nearly there. 20 + 2 = 22 great we reached out number. So with the Binary Number System just mark off underneath the numbers a 1 wherever we used the number. Where we didn’t use the number put a 0.
So we can now see that the number 22 in Binary is equal to 10110.
Have a look at this webpage here for a Binary to Decimal Calculator. Learn the Binary Number System first, then give it a try!
Please note that this tutorial is not a complete resource on learning Binary conversions. There are other methods too and we do not accept responsibility for any problems that may arise out of you using this system.
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Great thing with this chart. I find it very useful.
Thnaks.
Nice walkthrough. I now know how to calculate Binary! Thanks Kevin.
[...] Kevin O’Connor of MemoryMentor’s Blog shares how to Learn the Binary Number System. [...]
[...] OConnor presents Learn the Binary Number System posted at MemoryMentor’s [...]
This tutorial was very good. And the link to the converter too. All who wants to have a job with computers, have to know the binary system. It seems to be the base on it.
Best regards
Lothar
Kevin,
This blog really is amazing. I hope you will continue to enlighten and educate us with this vedic maths and with th use of mnemonics.
Great work really.
Thanks kevin,I plan to be a computer programmer when I get older, and I like math so this is really helping me out a lot. Thanks!!!!!!
too cool. enjoying maths more and more day by day. why didnt they teach us these shortcuts when we were in school?
i just want to now why do we use binary system of code
I knew and forgot the system,and I wanted to teach my son..Thank you I got it in under 5 minutes it was teriffic
On the very basic level this is a great thread. A more complete understanding of the reason why is place value per binary number defined by 2 to the power of 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 etc. reading from right to left. Hence, the word Binary.Bi being a latin word for 2.
Binary – Bi = 2
Thanks John I didn’t know that!
Surely you’ve heard of bicycles before, and we know how many wheels a bicycle has.
[...] learning the binary number system? [...]
1 is from 2 power 0
2 is from 2 power 1 (2)
4 is from 2 power 2 (2×2)
8 is from 2 power 3 (2x2x2)
16 is from 2 power 4 (2x2x2x2)
and so forth….
If you want to learn the Binary Code System I propose you
http://www.binaryplayingcards.com/
http://www.cartebinarie.it/
Bye
http://www.ripten.com/2009/06/16/contest-win-one-of-10-ps3xbox-360-call-of-duty-world-at-war-map-pack-codes/
Nice tutorial, but why would anyone not use a calculator to figure out these things? It is nice to know how to do it by hand, but practically speaking…
Is there a similar system available for hexadecimal? A tutorial for that would be useful…
being a computer programmer myself makes me very proud of my job:”-
I found an excellent free web calculator here: http://web2.0calc.com/
I always had great irritation with converting binary to decimal, Octal, Hex decimal etc.
Lovely post man, appreciate it. I love gaming.
This particular tutorial was top notch. And the link to the converter too. All who wants to have a career with computers, should know the binary process. It seems that they are the base on it.
Nice! we all love some handy work
Excellent thing, very useful
I work with electronics and computer system repair students for the US Military. This is a great easy system for a subject which is difficult to many. Thanks and keep it up.
I was wondering if you ever considered changing the layout of your site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two images. Maybe you could space it out better?
Tks…
This information really helped me, I am sharing with a few friends….