In order to understand the binary system it is necessary to consider
first some aspects of the denary (decimal) number system which is in
common use.
Counting in the denary system is achieved using ten integers, 0
through 9. The system is said to have a base of 10, and all numbers
are formed by multiplying the powers of 10 by the integers 0 to 9.
Example 1 shows three numbers being formed in this way.
Example 1
10
3
10
2
10
1
10°| KT
1
10-
2
1(T
3
Denary point
4 0 2
6 1-4
• 0 2 2
402 = 4 x 10
2
+ 0 x 10
1
+ 2 x 10°
= 4 x 100 + 0 x 10 + 2 x 1 = 402
61.4 = 6 x 10
1
+ 1 x 10° +4 x lO"
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