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Digital Literacy Computer Basics Computer Basics Binary

What number is represented by the byte 00001000?

10

3 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,786 Points

Click this link to see the answer I gave to someone asking the same question back in 2017. :wink:

Hi John Tunji,

Understanding binary can be a bit tricky.

00001000
first off: You're counting left to right
two: You start at the place of the first 1 you see.
the 1 is in the eights place, which means that number produced by the byte can't be less than eight 
    (specifically it'll be between 8 and 15, but the value of the bit in the eights place is 8)
then you check the value of the bit in the fours place 
    (if it too is 1, then you add the value of the fours place, which is 4 to 8)
    (otherwise, you add 0 to 8)
    and so your running total is 8 + 0 = 8
then you check the value of the bit in the twos place
    (if it too is 1, then you add the value of the twos place, which is 2 to the running total)
    (otherwise, you add 0 to the running total)
    and so your running total is 8 + 0 = 8
then you check the value of the bit in the ones place
    (if it too is 1, then you add the value of the ones place, which is 1 to the running total)
    (otherwise, you add 0 to the running total)
    and so your running total is 8 + 0 = 8

the entire equation would look like this: 8 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 8

Hope that helps make it easier to understand.