Look at it like this Raymond:
As you know, binary uses only two digits to represent numbers whereas base
10 (what we use) uses 10 digits (0 - 9) to represent any number. In the
decimal
(base 10) number system we can use ten different digits to represent a
number
value before we have to go into the next column to the left. Ex:
We can represent any number from 0 to 9 by placing it's symbol in the 1s
column
before we have to go over one place to the left to represent units of ten:
1000s 100s 10s 1s
------ ----- ---- ---
1
2
3
4
.
.
9
1 0
As the numbers get larger we fill the columns up until we use up ten digits
(0 - 10)
and then move one place to the left again. Simple, right?
Well, in binary we only have two digits we can use (0 and 1) before we have
to
move one place over to the left in representing larger and larger numbers.
With
the decimal system having ten digits, each column represents units of ten.
With
binary, each column represents units of two. Thus instead of each column
(place
holder) having representing ten values, as in decimal, they only represent
two
values (binary). Thus instead of having 1, 10, 100, 1000 (from right to
left),
you have 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, etc. You may ask why not 2,4,6,8,10 etc. instead?
The
answer is that base 10 (decimal) means that each column of numbers
represents
powers of ten (thus 1, 10, 100, 1000). Similarly base 2 (binary) represents
powers of 2 (thus 0,2,4,8,16,32). Each column doubles the previous value.
Therefore when we write numbers in the decimal system, the columns look like
1000 100 10 1
----- ----- --- ---
But when we count in binary the columns look like
........ 32 16 8 4 2 0
--- -- -- -- -- --
If you simply remember to increase the placeholder by a factor of two as you
move to the left, you can convert any decimal number into its binary
equivalent.
In binary (as so with computers) 0 represents no and 1 represents yes.
Therefore
to write a number in binary, you simply put a 1 in the proper placeholder
column
that represents a value that is a component of the total number. To clarify,
if you're
writing the number ten in binary you would simply start at the left and
moving towards
the right (the smaller number) "does this number (represented by the column
or
placeholder value) fit into ten. Looking at our placeholder columns above 16
is
larger than ten, so that column has a value of 0 (no). Does 8 (the next
value to the
right) go into 10. The answer is yes so you would place a 1 (yes) in the
eight's
column. Since we have represented the value eight that leaves you only with
the
value two to come up with your ten. So, moving to the right, you ask
yourself "does
4 go into 2 (the value left that we have to account for)? The answer is no
so you
put a 0 (no) in the four's column. The next column to the right is the two's
column.
Does 2 go into 2? Yes, so we put a 1 (yes) in the two's column. That gives
you
your value of ten so you simply place a 0 in any remaining column to the
right to
complete your binary number. Thus the number 10 in binary would be:
................. 32 16 8 4 2 0
--- --- -- -- --- --
0 0 1 0 1 0 or just 1010 since you leave
off preceding
zeroes just like in
decimal format.
Using this method, the following decimal numbers would look like this:
64 32 16 8 4 2 0
---------------------- = decimal 72 (64 +

1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1001000
64 32 16 8 4 2 0
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- = decimal 28 (16 + 8 + 4)
0 0 1 1 1 0 0 11100 (leave off preceding 0s)
16 8 4 2 0
-- -- -- -- -- = decimal 5 (4 + 1)
0 0 1 0 1 101 (in binary, the 0 place always has
a value of 1
thus any odd number will
always end with the
number 1 when written in
binary)
16 8 4 2 0
--- --- -- -- --- = decimal 17 (16 + 1)
1 0 0 0 1 10001
Get it? Though confusing as hell to explain, it's actually quite easy when
you
do it this way. Just lay out your colums of powers of two in descending
(left
to right) order and place your true (1) values under the appropriate
columns.
All the rest of the values are 0. The binary number starts with the first 1.
Voila. Hope that helps.
D. Bland
"Raymond" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I know that understanding how to count in binary is not going to help in
> fixing computer, but I just want to know. I don't understand the concept
of
> counting in binary. Can anyone tell me how it work counting from 1 to 10?
>
>