3_3_1 Number Bases

You should be able to:

  • Understand the following number bases:

•• decimal (base 10)

•• binary (base 2)

•• hexadecimal (base 16)

  • Understand that computers use binary to represent all data and instructions.
  • Explain why hexadecimal is often used in computer science.

REVISE:

Decimal and Binary

Decimal (Denary) and Binary already been covered in:

Re-visit these outcomes as part of your revision.

Hexadecimal

Hexadecimal.pdf

Why Hexadecimal?

Hexadecimal has these advantages:

  • It is easier to read
  • It is easier to remember
  • 1 byte (8 0's and 1's) can be written with just 2 digits

Hexadecimal IS NOT:

  • Data compression! Just because it uses less digits, it doesn't mean it takes up less space! F in hex is still using up the same amount of data storage as 1111 in binary.

TEST:

  1. Download and print the test paper here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5fLtQ0Xgr2POW1QWGlZd1hoM3c
  2. Try the mock test yourself.
  3. Use the 3.3.1 Walking Talking Mock below to guide you through answering the questions.

SOURCE RECOGNITION - PLEASE NOTE: The examination examples used in these walking talking mocks are samples from AQA from their non-confidential section of the public site. They also contain questions designed by TeachIT for AQA as part of the publicly available lesson materials.