TABLE OF CONTENTS This is the first of two chapters on applied technologies. It briefly discusses the basics of binary numbers [1] and their mathematics. Since computers are digital machines [2] Binary numbers are the language computers speak. While at first blush this subject may appear difficult, most of this chapter consists of definitions. Many of the logic gates may be familiar to the reader from other contexts, and so we will merely formalize or restate what is already known. By combining these logic gates, the operation of the basic building blocks of a computer will become clear. We will address the following questions:
What is the binary number system? Why is it used by computers?
How does one perform binary mathematics?
What is a logic gate, and what are the basic types of logic gates?
What is computer memory?
What is a computer bus?
What are the minimum number of parts needed to make a computer? What task do these parts perform?
[1]Each digit of a binary number may have only two possible values, usually taken as 0 and 1.
[2]This means the numbers that are processed by such instruments are discrete as opposed to continuous. The simplest digital signals are binary signals-signals that are off or on, 0 or 1.
The fuel gauge on many cars has a needle that continuously moves from E to F. The speedometer needle on most cars tells us how fast we are going by continuously changing where...
