What is Binary Computation?
![[picture: binary numbers]](/images/binary.gif)
Binary Computation: the art of reducing all functions into math, and all math into zero's and one's.
Before we can really understand the most basic level at which computers function, we must first explore the binary numeral system, sometimes referred to as "base 2". In our everyday lives, most of us are accustomed to using a "base 10" system (the decimal system) for counting; base 10 simply means that with ten types of digits (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) we can do any calculation. We accomplish this by adding digits for precision and amplitude, i.e. 3.4159 is a precise fraction of whole numbers (or integers) and 2,300,542 is a number much larger than ten.
Why use binary?
Binary, or base 2, operates in much the same way, except that a digit or series of digits is divisible only by two. Before I get into the explanation of how to count in binary, allow me to first explain why we use binary numbers in computing. Fundamentally, it is quite natural for us to use the decimal system -- we have ten fingers to count on -- but it's adding unnecessary complexity to have a mechanical device count in base 10, and it's particularly obtuse to have current electronic devices count in 10's when they have at their disposal a quite natural method of counting by 2's.
A "bit" more information:
A term you may have heard before is "bits" (or "bytes") and this is a reference to this base 2 system. A bit is a binary-digit.
A compact disc is encoded using a reflective film that has holes or dyes that are utilized to prevent the reflection of a laser in specific regions of the film. In this way, the reflective and non-reflective surfaces can be used to specify either state of a bit, generally though of as either zero or one.
A floppy disk uses a coating of minute magnetic particles for the same goal, but in this case the polarity of each area of magnetic coating is what determines the state of the bit encoded there -- positive and negative polarity are equated to zero or one by the disk drive.
Once this data is inside the computer's chips, the state of the bits are transmitted from disk drive to processor, memory, or output device, by regulating the voltage of the signals -- voltage below a specified threshold represents a zero, and above a certain threshold represents a one.