Binary Numbers: Counting with Two Fingers

Learning Objectives Explain that computers use a special language called binary. Identify the two digits used in binary (0 and 1). Represent the numbers 0 through 5 using their fingers as binary digits (on/off). Convert small decimal numbers (0-10) into their binary representation. Decode a simple binary number (up to 4 digits) back into a regular number. Define a 'bit' as a single 0 or 1. Ever wondered how a light switch can tell a computer what to do? 💡 It's all about a secret code made of just two numbers! Today, we're going to become codebreakers and learn the computer's secret language, called binary. You'll discover how computers use just 0s and 1s to do everything from playing games to showing videos. It's like learning how to coun...

TermDefinitionExample BinaryA special way of counting that only uses two numbers: 0 and 1.The number 2 in our normal counting is written as '10' in binary. BitShort for 'Binary Digit'. It's a single 0 or a single 1. It's the smallest piece of computer information.In the binary number 101, there are 3 bits. DecimalThe way we normally count, using ten digits (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).The number 25 is a decimal number. On / OffA way to think about binary. 1 means 'On' and 0 means 'Off'.A light switch that is 'On' is like the number 1. A switch that is 'Off' is like the number 0. Place ValueIn binary, each spot has a value that doubles as you move to the left (..., 8, 4, 2, 1).In the binary number 101, the first 1 is i...

The Two-Digit Rule Binary only uses 0 and 1. When writing in binary, you can never use a 2, 3, or any other number. Think of it like a light switch: it can only be 'Off' (0) or 'On' (1). The Doubling Place Value Rule Each place value is double the one to its right (..., 16, 8, 4, 2, 1). To figure out what a binary number means, you start from the right with 1, then the next spot to the left is 2, then 4, then 8, and so on, always doubling.