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Computers do not use decimal numbers. Binary simply is a system represented by two symbols. Digital computers make use of circuits that are either on of off; two states; making it easily adapted to binary numbers. Although these bits (binary digits) are generally grouped into 8-bit bytes, octal numbering is rarely used directly, although it is always present (such as in TCP/IP addressing). Instead bytes are paired up and that results in the use of hexadecimal (base 16) numbering at times. People who can do hexadecimal math in their heads are called "hex nuts."
Computers do not use decimal numbers. Binary simply is a system represented by two symbols. Digital computers make use of circuits that are either on of off; two states; making it easily adapted to binary numbers. Although these bits (binary digits) are generally grouped into 8-bit bytes, octal numbering is rarely used directly, although it is always present (such as in TCP/IP addressing). Instead bytes are paired up and that results in the use of hexadecimal (base 16) numbering at times. People who can do hexadecimal math in their heads are called "hex nuts."
I thought their system was binary and they communicated to us by decimal.
I thought their system was binary and they communicated to us by decimal.
You make it sound like computers are another species that lives in another land with another language. If a program calls for the computer to draw a 3 or a 9 on the screen, it will comply, but that in no way indicates that the computer uses a decimal numbering system. Everything inside the computer is binary.
What is the relation between the numbering system and computers?
Any takers?
Well, computers basically use only 2 characters 1 or 0 (base 2/binary number system), since the most common electrical circuits function like a switch, either on or off. So you have a string of 1's and 0's and you use a map (such as an ASCII table) to convert to complete numbers (1, 2, 3...) and then to letter/characters (a, b, c...).
This isn't really different than the English language, but in English there are 26 letters and 10 numbers. So the 4 characters TREE means something based on the map which is the dictionary. DOG is 3 characters, etc...
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