3. Computer Science Basics: Binary

Questions and Answers

Because binary requires only two states, making it easier to process and taking up less space

A single number, either 1 or 0

It reduces the amount of space required to store data

A light switch with 2 positions (on and off) Signup and view all the answers

Because decimal is more complex and difficult to process Signup and view all the answers

A larger file contains more bits Signup and view all the answers

By rapidly processing and translating it into data Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Throughout history, almost every civilization has used a decimal number system with 10 digits (0-9) to represent all possible numbers.
Computers, however, operate using a binary number system with only 2 digits (1 & 0).

Binary is a number system with two digits (1 & 0) that computers use to process digital information or data.
A bit (short for binary digit) is a single number, either 1 or 0, that can be combined to create larger units like bytes, megabytes, and so on.
The larger a file is, the more bits it has; for example, a high-resolution video is made up of millions of ones and zeros.

Binary can be thought of as a light switch, where 1 represents "on" and 0 represents "off" with no other possible states.
Bits are strung together in different combinations of ones and zeros to form a code that the computer rapidly processes and translates into data.

Computers use binary because it has only two states (on and off), making it easier to process and taking up less space.
If computers used decimal, they would have to process 10 states, making it more complex and difficult.

Humans use the decimal number system, which consists of 10 digits (0-9), to represent all possible numbers.
Computers, on the other hand, operate using the binary number system, which consists of only 2 digits (1 & 0).

Binary is a number system with only two digits (1 & 0) used to process digital information in computers.
A bit (binary digit) is a single number, either 1 or 0, that can be combined to create larger units like bytes, megabytes, and so on.
The size of a file depends on the number of bits it contains; for example, a high-resolution video consists of millions of ones and zeros.

Binary can be thought of as a simple on/off switch, where 1 represents "on" and 0 represents "off".
Bits are combined in different sequences of ones and zeros to form a code that computers rapidly process and translate into data.

Computers use binary because it has only two states (on and off), making it easier to process and more space-efficient.
If computers used decimal, they would have to process 10 states, making it more complex and difficult.