Computer science foundations · 8 minutes

Bits, bytes and binary

Explain how a computer represents whole numbers in binary to a first-year student. Include a worked example and explain what a byte is.

Study · reference notes

A bit has two possible values, 0 and 1. Binary represents numbers using base two.

From right to left, binary place values are 1, 2, 4, 8 and successive powers of two. For example, 101 represents 4 + 0 + 1 = 5.

A byte contains eight bits. Eight unsigned bits represent 256 distinct values, from 0 to 255.

Independent lesson notes · independent tutor review pending

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