why does computers language only have 0 &1?
In: 8
Firstly for a computer to work its magic, the most important ability it needs is the ability to do additions.
All a computer does is add a bunch of numbers together.
For example, you deposit $3 from your bank, your account balance increases by 3.
If you withdraw $3 from your bank, your account balance increases by -3. (still achievable with addition)
We humans count with base 10, in other words we have digits from 0 to 9. However we can also achieve the same using only base 2 with only digits 0 and 1.
we can convert numbers in base 10 to base 2.
3 -> 11
4 -> 100
8 -> 1000
… etc
Hence its only a difference in representation and also storage.
So why do we use base 2(only 0 amd 1)? This is largely due to the limitations of physics. It’s much easy and quicker to only have 2 choices and determine which is the current situation.
For example
bright-> 1 dark -> 0
loud-> 1 silent -> 0
For computers, we made use of silicon because of its unique property to differentiate 0 and 1 and also because we were able to master it.
In conclusion, it’s the intersection betwee math and natural physics that made us have only 0 and 1. If someday someone manage to master something else that is more powerful, for example quantum, we might actually get to see more digits then.
Stay safe and stay curious 🙂
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