AQA Computer Science A-Level

4.5.4 Binary number system

Concise Notes

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Specification:

4.5.4.1 Unsigned binary:

Know the difference between unsigned binary and signed binary
Know that in unsigned binary the minimum and maximum values for a
given number of bits, ​n​, are 0 and 2​n​ -1 respectively

4.5.4.2 Unsigned binary arithmetic:

Be able to:
● add two unsigned binary integers
● multiply two unsigned binary integers

4.5.4.3 Signed binary using two’s complement:

Know that signed binary can be used to represent negative integers and
that one possible coding scheme is two’s complement.
Know how to:
● represent negative and positive integers in two’s complement
● perform subtraction using two’s complement
● calculate the range of a given number of bits, ​n​.

4.5.4.4 Numbers with a fractional part:

Know how numbers with a fractional part can be represented in:
● fixed point form in binary in a given number of bits
● floating point form in binary in a given number of bits
Be able to convert for each representation from:
● decimal to binary of a given number of bits
● binary to decimal of a given number of bits

4.5.4.5 Rounding errors:

Know and be able to explain why both fixed point and floating point
representation of decimal numbers may be inaccurate.

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4.5.4.6 Absolute and relative errors:
Be able to calculate the absolute error of numerical data stored and
processed in computer systems.
Be able to calculate the relative error of numerical data stored and
processed in computer systems.
Compare absolute and relative errors for large and small magnitude
numbers, and numbers close to one.

4.5.4.7 Range and precision:

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of fixed point and floating
point forms in terms of range, precision and speed of calculation.

4.5.4.8 Normalisation of floating point form:

Know why floating point numbers are normalised and be able to
normalise un-normalised floating point numbers with positive or negative
mantissas.

4.5.4.9 Underflow and overflow:

Explain underflow and overflow and describe the circumstances in
which they occur.

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 Signed and unsigned binary

● Binary numbers can be either signed or unsigned

● A computer ​has to be told​ whether a number is signed or unsigned before working
with it. There is​ no way to tell​ from the number’s appearance.
● Unsigned binary numbers can only represent ​positive numbers
● Signed binary allows for the representation of ​negative numbers​ using binary

Range of unsigned numbers

● The ​range ​of numbers that can be represented by an unsigned binary number
depends on ​the number of bits​ available
● There is a ​pattern ​to the range of numbers that can be represented by a given
number of bits
● For n bits, there are ​2n​
​ possible ​permutations ​of the bits
● For n bits, a ​range ​of decimal numbers from ​0​to ​2​ -1​can be represented
n​

Unsigned binary arithmetic

Adding two unsigned binary integers

● There are ​four important rules​ to remember:

1. 0 + ​
0 + 0 = 0
2. 0 + ​
0 + 1 = 1
3. 0 + ​
1 + 1 = 10
4. 1 + 1 + 1 = 11

● After carrying out binary addition, it’s a good idea to ​check your answer ​by
converting to decimal if you have time

Multiplying two unsigned binary integers

● Write out one of the two numbers starting under ​each
occurrence of a 1​ in the second number
● Then ​add ​the contents of the columns
● Binary multiplication can be ​checked ​by converting to
decimal

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 Signed binary with two’s complement

● Two’s complement​ allows for the representation of ​both positive and negative
numbers​ in binary
● The ​most significant bit​ of a number is ​given a negative place value

Subtraction using two’s complement

● Computers ​work by adding numbers
● To perform subtraction, computers ​add negative numbers

Range of two’s complement numbers

● The ​range ​of a two’s complement signed binary number includes both
positive and negative ​values
● With ​n​ bits, the range of a two’s complement signed binary number is
from ​2​ -1​to ​-2​
n-1​ n-1

Numbers with a fractional part

● Binary can be used to represent ​numbers with a fractional part

● There are​ two ways​ to do this, ​fixed point ​form and ​floating point ​form

Fixed point binary

● A specified number of bits are placed ​before​ a ​binary point
● The remaining bits fall ​behind ​the binary point
● Standard binary place values are used for columns ​before ​the binary point
● Columns ​behind ​the binary point start at ½, then ¼ and ⅛ etc.

Floating point binary (binary to decimal)

● Comparable to ​scientific notation
● A number is represented as a ​mantissa ​and an ​exponent
● In ​exam questions​, both the mantissa and exponent will be represented using ​two's
complement signed binary
● A number of bits are allocated to the mantissa the remaining bits form the exponent.
● In order to convert from floating point form to decimal, first ​convert the exponent to
decimal
● Next, treat the number ​as if there were a binary point ​between the ​first and second
digits of the mantissa​, move the binary point the ​number of positions specified ​by
the exponent
● Now treat the mantissa as a​ fixed point​ binary number
● Finally, ​convert from binary to decimal ​using the usual method

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Floating point binary (decimal to binary)
● First ​convert your decimal number to fixed point binary
● Next, ​normalise ​the number so that it starts with ​01​(for a positive number) or ​10
(for a negative number)
● When converting from floating point to decimal, the binary point is ​assumed to be
between the first two digits​ in the mantissa. Move the binary point until this is
achieved.
● The number of positions through which the binary point is moved forms the
exponent, which must be converted to binary
● Combine the mantissa and exponent to form a normalised floating point number

Rounding errors

● There are some decimal numbers that ​cannot possibly be represented exactly ​in
binary
● Binary can only ​approximately ​represent these numbers
● For this reason, both fixed point and floating point representations of decimal
numbers ​may be inaccurate

Absolute and relative errors

● You can calculate ​absolute ​and ​relative ​errors to see how close a particular number
is to an​ actual value

Absolute error calculation

● The ​actual amount ​by which a value is inaccurate
● Can be calculated by finding the ​difference ​between the given value and the actual
value

Relative error calculation

● A ​measure of uncertainty​ in a given value ​compared to the actual value
● Relative errors are​ relative to the size of the given value
● Can be calculated using the formula:

absolute error
relative error = actual value

● A ​percentage ​can be calculated if the result is ​multiplied by 100

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Errors in relation to magnitude
● An absolute error of 0.1cm in a measurement of 50m results in a ​very small relative
error​ of 0.002%
● The​ same absolute error​ of 0.1cm in a measurement of 1cm results in a ​much
larger relative error​ of 10%

Fixed point vs floating point

● Both fixed point and floating point ​perform the same function​ of representing
numbers with fractional parts in binary
● Floating point allows for the representation of a ​greater range of numbers​ with a
given number of bits ​than fixed point
● The ​number of bits allocated ​to each part of a floating point number affects the
numbers that can be represented
○ A​ large exponent​ and a ​small mantissa ​allows for a​ large range​ but​ little
precision
○ A ​small exponent ​and a ​large mantissa ​allows for ​good precision​ but only a
small range
● The ​placement of the binary point ​in fixed point notation determines the range and
precision of the numbers that can be represented
○ A binary point ​close to the left ​of a number gives ​good precision​ but only a
small range ​of numbers
○ A binary point ​close to the right ​gives ​good range​ but ​poor precision

Normalisation

● Floating point numbers are ​normalised ​to ​provide the maximum level of precision
for a given number of bits
● Involves ensuring that the a floating point numbers ​starts with​ ​01​(for a positive
number) or ​10​(for negative numbers)

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 Underflow and overflow

● Two types of ​error ​that can occur when working with binary

Underflow
● Occurs when ​very small numbers​ are to be represented but there ​are not enough
bits available

Overflow
● Occurs when a number is​ too large to be represented​ with the available bits
● Particularly important when using ​signed binary​ where overflow can cause positive
numbers to give negative results

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