What is computing?
To understand the software and hardware of a microcontroller based system, one must first master some very basic concepts underlying computer design. After the logic gates, a point of view of the workings inside the computer is given.
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Numbering and coding systems
Where human beings are use base 10 (decimal) arithmetic, computers work with the base 2 (binary) system. The effort depiction of binary numbers in base 16, called hexadecimal, also is covered.
Decimal and binary number systems
The binary system for used in the computers whereas because 1 and 0 represent the two voltage levels like as on and off. Whereas in base 10 there are 10 symbols, 0, 1, 2, …, 9, in base 2 there are only two, 0 and 1, are commonly mention to as bits.
Converting from decimal to binary
Primary procedure of converting from decimal to binary is to divide the decimal number by 2 repeatedly, keeping follow of the remainders. This process resume until the quotient becomes zero. The remainders are then written in change order to obtain the binary number.
Converting from binary to decimal
To transform from binary to decimal, it is major to understand the concept of mass integrated with each digit position. First, as an analogy, remember the mass of numbers in the base 10 system. By the same symbol, each digit place in a number in base 2 has a mass integrated with if.
Hexadecimal system
The hexadecimal system or base 16 as it is called in computer writings are used as a suitable depiction of binary numbers. For example, it is much quiet for a human being to constitute a string of 0’s and 1’s such as 100010010110 as its hexadecimal identical of 896H. There are two digits zero and one. The 10 digits, 0 through 9 of base 10 system. As we know base 16 hex, the first 10 digits 0 to 9 are same as in decimal, and for the remaining six digits are letters A, B, C, D, E and F are used.
Converting between binary and hex
To represent a binary number as its equivalent hexadecimal number, start from the right and group 4bits at a time, replacing each 4-bit binary number with its hex equivalent. To transform from hex to binary, all hex digit is replaced with its 4-bit binary identical.
