Binary Numbers
Binary numbers are well suited for use by computers, since many electrical devices have two distinct states: on and off. They are the numbers computers themselves understand. Composed entirely of zeros and ones, they express all values in powers of two.
The advantage of the binary system is that you only need two symbols (0 and 1) to express any number, no matter how big it is. Since computers are basically just large groups of switches, and since these switches can only be either on or off, binary system fits right in; you just define 0 as off and 1 as on and then binary numbers tell the computer which switches to throw.
The table below shows some numbers written in binary and decimal form. Note that writing numbers in binary requires more digits than writing numbers in decimal.
|
Decimal |
Binary |
Decimal |
Binary |
|
0 |
0 |
11 |
1011 |
|
1 |
1 |
12 |
1100 |
|
2 |
10 |
13 |
1101 |
|
3 |
11 |
14 |
1110 |
|
4 |
100 |
15 |
1111 |
|
5 |
101 |
16 |
10000 |
|
6 |
110 |
17 |
10001 |
|
7 |
111 |
18 |
10010 |
|
8 |
1000 |
19 |
10011 |
|
9 |
1001 |
20 |
10100 |
|
10 |
1010 |
|
|
VOCABULARY
Well suited= well appropriate = bem adequados, aprorpiados
In powers= em potências
No matter= não importando
Since= uma vez que
Switches= chaves
Either ... or= ou ... ou
Fits = suits = é adequado, apropriado.
