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Digital Literacy Computer Basics Computer Basics Binary

Posted by Roderick McDonald
Roderick McDonald
Courses Plus Student 38 Points

Why do I need to understand anything about Binary? it's stupid. I can't get it at all. It says 2 to 0. well 2 x 0 - 0.

I don't get this binary stuff. and why do I need to know it?

3 Answers

Josh Keenan
Josh Keenan
20,315 Points
Josh Keenan
Josh Keenan
20,315 Points

When working on large systems you need to understand how a computer's memory works, Binary is needed as you need to understand what you can set as a maximum value for something for example.

2 to the power of 0 is equal to 1. It doesn't mean 2 x 0.

Any number to the power of 0 is equal to one, binary works in the indices of 2 or base 2.

If you want me to explain more just post to this thread again.

Josh Keenan
Josh Keenan
20,315 Points
Josh Keenan
Josh Keenan
20,315 Points

When working with computers you need to understand how their memory works because you WILL NEED to interact with it at some point if you go into a career working with them. Later in your career when you work on systems, let's use a social network where you post things as an example, on each post you don't want to use more than a byte of memory, so you know that you want to set the maximum character limit to 255.

It is needed if you plan to make a career in the computing industry and this course gives you the basic knowledge you need.

Roderick McDonald
PLUS
Roderick McDonald
Courses Plus Student 38 Points
Roderick McDonald
Roderick McDonald
Courses Plus Student 38 Points

Why do I need to understand it? I can drive my car and I have no idea how it works.

Nigel Ames
Nigel Ames
822 Points
Nigel Ames
Nigel Ames
822 Points

well, you might not actually need to ever use it, depending on what you do. web developers rarely use binary i believe. but its good to be at least somewhat familiar with history.

Josh Keenan
Josh Keenan
20,315 Points
Josh Keenan
Josh Keenan
20,315 Points

I think full stack web developers end up needing an understanding of it.