What is a bit? How do computers compute, if all they can do is count to 1?
A “bit” is a single switch in the computer, and represents the smallest unit of data. Each bit has two states, on and off, the two states of the bit are where we get the term binary (“bi” meaning two). On is written as 1 and off is written as 0. Each bit that is part of a number has a specific value with the lowest value(1) being on the far right. As you move left the value of the bit doubles. When calculating binary numbers you add up the value of each bit that is on (remember on is represented by the number 1). Therefore this binary number 0000 is equal to 0 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | = 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 0 This binary number 0101 is equal to 5 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | = 0 + 4 + 0 + 1 = 5 And this binary number 1111 is equal to 15 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | = 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 15 Addition can be performed in binary by lining up the two binary numbers and adding them normally. If the value of any column is greater than one reduce it by two and add one to the ne
