How Computers Think

Bits · Bytes · Binary Counting

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How computers represent all information with just two symbols — and how to read, build, and count in binary.

By the end, you can

Explain why computers represent information using only 0s and 1s.
Define *bit*, *nibble*, and *byte*, and state how many bits each holds.
Convert a binary number to decimal by summing its place values.
Build a specific decimal value by choosing which bits to turn on.
Apply the doubling rule to find how many values *n* bits can represent.
Count upward in binary and explain how the carry works.
Distinguish the largest value 8 bits can hold (255) from how many values it has (256).

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