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Digital Literacy Computer Basics Computer Basics Binary

What number does 00000001 represent?

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3 Answers

The answer is 1.

This is because 2 to the 0th power equals 1.

// 00000001 represents...
0^7 + 0^6 + 0^5 + 0^4 + 0^3 + 0^2 + 0^1 + 2^1  // This equals  1 because any number to the zeroth power equals 1.

As you see, if the bit is 0, you use 0 as the base (0 to any power is always 0) and the position of the bit at the exponent. If the bit is 1, you use 2 as the base. You take all the results of the powers and add them up and you get the result.

Another example:

// 0011 respsents...
0^3 + 0^2 + 2^1 + 2^0  // This equals 3 because 2^1 is 2 and 2^0 is 1 and the sum of them is 3.

I hope this helps. ~Alex

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