IP Routing Primer

Binary Numbering Versus Decimal Numbering

Binary numbering uses only 0s and 1s. It is a base-2 numbering system in which one is the largest digit that can be used in any position. This is the same as having nine be the largest number that can be used in any position in a decimal number.

Each digit in a binary number is multiplied by 2 to the power of the digit's position in the binary number, with the first position being the power of (0). Any number to the power of 0 is 1. Therefore, (1*(10⁰))=1=(1*(2⁰)).

Consider the binary number 1010. It can written in the more explicit form of 1*(2³) + 0*(2²) + 1*(2¹) + 0*(2⁰). This is one way to convert a binary number to a decimal number. In this case, 1*(2³) equals decimal 8, 0*(2²) equals decimal 0, ...