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Digital Literacy Computer Basics Computer Basics Binary

what number is represented by the byte 00000011 and why ?

is there a better way to understand the binary numbering system and its placement values?

2 Answers

Raffael Dettling
Raffael Dettling
32,999 Points

2^0 = 1 + 2^1 = 2 => 3 the base is 2 and you increase the exponent from 0 to 7 in this case. You go upwards from right to left. More detailed (https://www.mathsisfun.com/binary-number-system.html)

I believe it would be 3 if you are using binary, 1*2^0 + 1*2^1 = 1 + 2 = 3


If 00000011 was decimal which is base 10 it would be:

1*10^0 + 1*10^1 + 0*10^2 + 0*10^3 + 0*10^4 + 0*10^5 + 0*10^6 + 0*10^7

which is 1 + 10 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 11


but a byte stores values in binary which is base 2, so it is:

1*2^0 + 1*2^1 + 0*2^2 + 0*2^3 + 0*2^4 + 0*2^5 + 0*2^6 + 0*2^7

which in decimal is 1 + 2 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 3


sometimes the far left digit is checking whether it is negative or not, so instead of 0*2^7 being added, it is instead 0*(-1), but since that digit is 0 it does not matter which binary method you are using.