Gain insights into essential number systems for computer scientists. Explore binary representation, and learn to represent and manipulate positive, negative, and fractional numbers stored in computers.

Get introduced to the number systems that are essential for computer scientists, and take a deep dive into binary representation. Learn how to represent and manipulate, positive, negative, and fractional numbers in binary, and learn how numbers are stored and represented in computers.

The only background this course requires is grade-school arithmetic. No programming knowledge is needed.

Number Systems For Computer Scientists

# Number system tool

Use our tool to create your own number system. Notice how all the patterns we've learned so far in this course come into play in the practical implementation.

**Select your number system base and play around with the widget below. Click on a square repeatedly to go from one symbol to the next.**


An exercise to create your own number system.

Introduction

Essential Number Systems

Some Binary Operations

Signed Binary Numbers

Representing Numbers With Fractional Parts

Representation in a Computer

Conclusion

Exercise: Create Your Own Number System

Number system tool