Binary Digit Lesson

Computers use digits to represent information - this is why we talk about computers as being digital. Computers represent digits using binary numbers. Binary numbers can either be off or on. A computer’s processor is an electrical circuit; it consists of billions of transistors. A transistor is a tiny switch which is activated by the electronic signal it receives. Each binary digit is called a bit. The word comes from the ‘bi’ in binary and ‘t’ in digit. Eight bits make up a byte. That’s why the size of a computer’s memory is described in gigabytes.

Task One

Copy and complete this table:

8 = _ _ _ _ _

? = 11010

23 = _ _ _ _ _

19 = _ _ _ _ _

? = 10001

? = 00111

31 = _ _ _ _ _

? = 00100

14 = _ _ _ _ _

? = 00011

Task Two

Write your name using binary digits using the table below

A = 1

B = 2

C = 3

D = 4

E = 5

F = 6

G = 7

H = 8

I = 9

J = 10

K = 11

L = 12 

M = 13

N = 14

O = 15

P = 16

Q = 17

R =  18

S = 19

T =  20

U = 21

V = 22

W = 23

X = 24

Y = 25

Z = 26 
Space = 27

Task Three

Crack the code to read the secret message

10010, 01111, 00011, 01011, 11011, 01111, 01110

Task Four

Create your own message using binary digits and send it to me. I'll post it up for other kids to try to crack.

Rock On,

Mr M