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Binary Number System
The word binary comes from 'Bi-' meaning two. We see 'bi-' in words such as ‘bicycle‘ (two
wheels) or ‘binocular’ (two eyes). The binary numbers have the base of 2.
Fun • A single binary digit (like '0' or ‘1’) is called a ‘bit’. For example, 11010
Fact!
is five bits long. The word bit is made up of the words 'binary digit’.
Prime (Ver. 2.2)-VII A computer is made up of electronic components, which can be in two states: ON or OFF.
These states are represented by the binary digits 1 (ON) and 0 (OFF). Every instruction
given to a computer is converted into a series of 0's and 1's, so that it can be understood
and implemented by the computer. Binary language is, therefore, known as the machine
language.
A binary number is made up of only 0s and 1s. Example of Binary Number: 110100. There is
8
no 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 in Binary.
Name Size (bits) Examples
Bit 1 Single digit either 0 or 1
Nibble 4 Group of 4 digits either 0 or 1
Byte 8 Group of 8 digits either 0 or 1
Word 16 Group of 16 digits either 0 or 1
In a binary number, if the last digit is 1, the number is odd. If the last digit is 0, the
number is even. For example, the binary number 1101 represents an odd number (13); while
10010 represents an even number (18)
Let us first learn how to form binary numbers.
As the binary number system consists of two digits 0s and 1s, hence, its base is 2. Each
digit or bit in binary number system can be either 0 or 1. A combination of binary digits
may be used to represent different quantities like 1001. The positional value of each digit
in binary number is twice the place value or face value of the digit of its right side. The
weight of each position is a power of 2.
The place value of the digits according to position and weight is as follows:
Position 3 2 1 0 • –1 –2
Weights 2 3 2 2 2 1 2 0 2 –1 2 –2
Octal Number System
The octal number system consists of eight digits from 0 to 7. Hence, the base of octal
number system is 8. In this system, the position of each digit represents a power of 8.

