importance of number system in computer
Number system is a way to represent digit or symbols. In other words, A number system is a written system for expressing number, that is, a mathematics notation for represent number of given using digit or other symbol in consistent manner. Number system widely used in digital electronic like computer.
When we communicate with computer in computer's languages which is the binary language like telegraph in which a massage is convert in a series of dots and dashes. Just us you have the element of the computer language. The computer works on bit, nibble and byte.
Bit:-
Bit is either 0 and 1 and it is the smallest character which a computer recognizes.
Nibble:-
Nibble is formed by 4 bits. Therefore, a half byte is equal to a nibble or 4 bits.
Byte:-
One byte is equal to 8 bits which is the smallest unit of storage which a computer uses to store even a single characters. The characters may be an alphabet, a numeral, or a special characters, etc.
Mostly there are four types of number system:-
- Binary number system
- Decimal number system
- Octal number system
- Hexadecimal number system.
Let us study in details:-
1. Binary number system:-
The binary system uses only two symbols 0 and 1, thats why, this is called binary number system, Because bi means two. Since, only two number are used in binary number, the base or radix of binary number system is '2'. Each digit of this number system is called binary digit or bit. By using more bits to represent a dinary number system, even than this system of preferred for computer. This number system widely used in computer and digital electronic.
2. Decimal number system:-
In this number system, the radix or base of a decimal number system is 10. It means that it's contain '10' symbols that is 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, and 9. So, the number whose radix is 10 is called decimal number system. The decimal number system is widely used in mathematical operation.
3. Octal number system:-
In this number system, the base or radix is '8'. It means that it's contain eight symbols that is 0,1,2,3,4,5,6, and 7. In the representation of octal number system each digit is the power of 8. Octal number system is widely used in computer technology from the name octal it is also clear that it contain 8 symbols in it.
4. Hexadecimal number system:-
In this number system, the base or radix is 16. This is the special type of number because we use 16 symoble and it is combination of digit (0 to 9) and alphabet (a to f). The sixteen symbols are 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E and F. It is also widely used in computer technology or digital electronic.
