A binary number system is one of the four types of number system.

In computer applications,
where binary numbers are represented by only two symbols or digits, i.e. 0 (zero) and 1(one).
The binary numbers here are expressed in the base-2 numeral system. For example, (101)2 is a
binary number. Each digit in this system is said to be a bit. Learn about the number system here.

Table of Contents:

• Definition
• Table
• How to Calculate Binary Numbers
• Positions
• Binary Arithmetic Operations
• Binary Addition
• Binary Subtraction
• Binary Multiplication
• Binary Divison
• Uses
• Examples
• FAQs

Number System is a way to represent numbers in computer architecture. There are four different
types of the number system, such as:

1. Binary number system (base 2)

2. Octal number system (base 8)
3. Decimal number system(base 10)
4. Hexadecimal number system (base 16).
In this article, let us discuss what is a binary number system, conversion from one system to
other systems, table, positions, binary operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication,
and division, uses and solved examples in detail.

What is a Binary Number System?

Binary Number System: According to digital electronics and mathematics, a binary number is
defined as a number that is expressed in the binary system or base 2 numeral system. It describes
numeric values by two separate symbols; 1 (one) and 0 (zero). The base-2 system is the
positional notation with 2 as a radix.

The binary system is applied internally by almost all latest computers and computer-based
devices because of its direct implementation in electronic circuits using logic gates. Every digit
is referred to as a bit.

Example: Convert 4 in binary.

Solution:

4 in binary is (100)2.

Here, 4 is represented in the decimal number system, where we can represent the number using
the digits from 0-9. However, in a binary number system, we use only two digits, such as 0 and
1.

Now, let’s discuss how to convert 4 in binary number system. The following steps help to
convert 4 in binary.

Step 1: First, divide the number 4 by 2. Use the integer quotient obtained in this step as the
dividend for the next step. Continue this step, until the quotient becomes 0.

Dividend Remainder

4/2 = 2 0

2/2 = 1 0

1/2 = 0 1

Step 2: Now, write the remainder in reverse chronological order. (i.e from bottom to top).

Here, the Least Significant Bit (LSB) is 0 and the Most Significant Bit (MSB) is 1.

Hence, the decimal number 4 in binary is 1002

So, if we want to find how many bits does 4 in binary have? we have to count the number of
zeros and ones.
So, 4 in binary is 1002. Here, there are 2 zeroes and 1 one. Hence, we have 3 bits.

Therefore, the number of bits does 4 in binary have is 3.

What is Bit in Binary Number?

A single binary digit is called a “Bit”. A binary number consists of several bits. Examples are:

• 10101 is a five-bit binary number

• 101 is a three-bit binary number
• 100001 is a six-bit binary number

Facts to Remember:

• Binary numbers are made up of only 0’s and 1’s.

• A binary number is represented with a base-2
• A bit is a single binary digit.

Binary Numbers Table

Some of the binary notations of lists of decimal numbers from 1 to 30, are mentioned in the
below list.

Number Binary Number Number Binary Number Number Binary Number

1 1 11 1011 21 10101

2 10 12 1100 22 10110

3 11 13 1101 23 10111

4 100 14 1110 24 11000

 5 101 15 1111 25 11001

6 110 16 10000 26 11010

7 111 17 10001 27 11011

8 1000 18 10010 28 11100

9 1001 19 10011 29 11101

10 1010 20 10100 30 11110

How to Calculate Binary Numbers

For example, the number to be operated is 1235.

Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones

1 2 3 5

This indicates,

1235 = 1 × 1000 + 2 × 100 + 3 × 10 + 5 × 1

Given,

1000 = 103 = 10 × 10 × 10
 100 = 102 = 10 × 10

10 = 101 = 10

1 = 100 (any value to the exponent zero is one)

The above table can be described as,

Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones

103 102 101 100

1 2 3 5

Hence,

1235 = 1 × 1000 + 2 × 100 + 3 × 10 + 5 × 1

= 1 × 103 + 2 × 102 + 3 × 101 + 5 × 100

The decimal number system operates in base 10, wherein the digits 0-9 represent numbers. In
binary system operates in base 2 and the digits 0-1 represent numbers, and the base is known
as radix. Put differently, and the above table can also be shown in the following manner.

Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones

Decimal 103 102 101 100

Binary 23 22 21 20
We place the digits in columns 100, 101 and so on in base 10. When there is a need to put a value
higher than 9 in the form of 10(n+1) for instance, to add 10 to column 100, you need to add 1 to the
column 101.

We place the digits in columns 20, 21 and so on in base 2. To place a value that is higher than 1 in
2n, you need to add 2(n+1). For instance, to add 3 to column 20, you need to add 1 to column 21.

Position in Binary Number System

In the Binary system, we have ones, twos, fours etc…

For example 1011.110

It is shown like this:

1 × 8 + 0 × 4 + 1 × 2 + 1 + 1 × ½ + 1 × ¼ + 0 × 1⁄8

= 11.75 in Decimal

To show the values greater than or less than one, the numbers can be placed to the left or right of
the point.

For 10.1, 10 is a whole number on the left side of the decimal, and as we move more left, the
number place gets bigger (Twice).

The first digit on the right is always Halves ½ and as we move more right, the number gets
smaller (half as big).

In the example given above:

• “10” shows ‘2’ in decimal.

• “.1” shows ‘half’.
• So, “10.1” in binary is 2.5 in decimal.

Binary Arithmetic Operations

Like we perform the arithmetic operations in numerals, in the same way, we can perform
addition, subtraction, multiplication and division operations on Binary numbers. Let us learn
them one by one.
Binary Addition
Adding two binary numbers will give us a binary number itself. It is the simplest method.
Addition of two single-digit binary number is given in the table below.

Binary Numbers Addition

0 0 0

0 1 1

1 0 1

1 1 0; Carry →1

Let us take an example of two binary numbers and add them.

For example: Add 11012 and 10012.

Solution:

Binary Subtraction
Subtracting two binary numbers will give us a binary number itself. It is also a straightforward
method. Subtraction of two single-digit binary number is given in the table below.

Binary Numbers Subtraction

 0 0 0

0 1 1; Borrow 1

1 0 1

1 1 0

Let us take an example of two binary numbers and subtract them.

Example: Subtract 11012, and 10102.

Solution: 11012 – 10102 = 00112

Binary Multiplication
The multiplication process is the same for the binary numbers as it is for numerals. Let us
understand it with example.

Example: Multiply 11012 and 10102.

Solution:
Binary Division
The binary division is similar to the decimal number division method. We will learn with an
example here.

Example: Divide 10102 by 102

Solution:

Uses of Binary Number System

Binary numbers are commonly used in computer applications. All the coding and languages in
computers such as C, C++, Java, etc. use binary digits 0 and 1 to write a program or encode any
digital data. The computer understands only the coded language. Therefore these 2-digit number
system is used to represent a set of data or information in discrete bits of information.

Problems and Solutions

Let us practice some of the problems for better understanding:

Question 1: What is binary number 1.1 in decimal?

Solution:

Step 1: 1 on the left-hand side is on the one’s position, so it’s 1.

Step 2: The one on the right-hand side is in halves, so it’s

1×½
Step 3: so, 1.1 = 1.5 in decimal.

Question 2: Write 10.112 in Decimal?

Solution:

10.11 = 1 x (2)1 + 0 (2)0 + 1 (½)1 + 1(½)2

=2+0+½+½

= 2.75

So, 10.11 is 2.75 in Decimal.