Unit 2, Computer Systems/Data Representation I

BTEC First for IT Practitioners

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OnCourse – Learner notes 1

This document covers how data is represented inside a computer system.

Terms covered include:

 Denary

 Binary

Learning aims include:

 Understand the Binary (base 2) number system

 Understanding how binary is used to store different types of data

 Being able to convert between Binary (base 2) and Denary (base 10)

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OnCourse – Learner notes 1

Denary

Denary (or Base 10) is the number system that we use to count and represent
numeric values in everyday life. The most commonly accepted reason for this is
that we have 10 fingers.

As such we can write any of our numbers like so:

100s 10s 1s

3 6 5

The weights or headings above each number can be used to calculate the
number and describe how it is made.

In the following example, we can see that 365 is made from:

3 x 100 = 300
6 x 10 = 60
5x1 =5

These headings relate to the number base that is being used.

As noted, denary is base 10 – this means that the headings start at 1 and get 10
times bigger as we move from right-to-left.

eg

10,000s 1000s 100s 10s 1s

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Binary

Computers, of course, do not count in denary.

They don’t have 10 fingers!

Instead, computers are made of millions of minute

electronic circuits and each circuit contains a number
of small switches.

Each switch can either be “on” or “off”.

The best number system for the computer to use is Binary.

Binary is base 2.

The headings again start at 1, but this time they get 2 times bigger as we move
from right-to-left.

16 8 4 2 1

Unlike denary where we can use any digit between 0 and 9, binary only uses “0”
and “1”. This is good because we can use “0” and “1” to represent the “off”
and “on” switches inside the computer.

Why is this important?

It means that all different types of data (sound effects, graphics, text,
animation, music, graphs, webpages etc) can be represented in binary and
stored inside the computer.

This is the basis of all computer processing.

Converting Denary to Binary

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It is fairly simple to convert between denary and binary.

As an example, let’s convert “6” (in denary) to binary:

8 4 2 1

0 1 1 0 = 6

So, to make “6” in binary we would need:

1x4
1x2

If it helps, think about coins: to make 6p, you would need one 4p and one 2p.

You also have to remember that you can only use each “coin” once.

Here are some other examples…

8 4 2 1

0 0 0 0 = 0

0 1 0 1 = 5

0 0 1 1 = 3

1 1 1 1 = 15

You have probably noticed that when a heading isn’t being used we simply write
a “0” underneath.

The computer would see “5” as either 0101 or OFF, ON, OFF, ON.

Converting Binary to Denary

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This is the same process but in reverse.

Imagine if we were given the binary number 10110 to work out the denary
equivalent…

Step 1 – write out the binary headings

16 8 4 2 1

Step 2 – put the binary digits (we call them BITs) under the binary headings,
starting from the right-hand side.

16 8 4 2 1

1 0 1 1 0

Step 3 – add the headings together where a “1” occurs in the binary number.

16 8 4 2 1

1 0 1 1 0

Or we could write this as:

16 + 4 + 2 = 22

Tip

A useful tip is that if the binary number ends in a “0” then denary number will
be even (like 22). Binary numbers ending in a “1” will be odd.

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