Peter Miranda - Portfolio # 3
We are living in a world where numbers are everywhere. Be it in basic chores, your day-to-day exchange, and most obviously, in school. One cannot live without numbers. It is the use of numbers that got us this far in evolution, especially in physics and mathematics. It is especially important to understand number systems as they are a crucial dimension of numbers. If you understand number systems, you will be able to understand how numbers work in an intermediate manner. In this presentation, we're going to learn about number systems, the types of number systems, and their significance in our everyday lives.
Number systems can be defined as the system which uses particular words or symbols for quantifying a given object or value. For example, teachers would grade/assign a particular numerical value to the examination paper depending upon the student's performance giving us an idea about the knowledge and preparation level of the student.
It consists of 10 digits. It is the oldest and most popular number system used in our day to day life. In the positional number system, each decimal digit is weighted relative to its position in the number.
The decimal system is the number system we use every day. We use it for shopping, counting, money, measurements, and basically anything in normal life. It's important because it's the easiest for people to understand and it's what we all learn first.
This is also known as the binary number system wherein, only two binary digits exist, i.e., 0 and 1. The figures described under this system are known as binary numbers which are the combination of 0 and 1. For example, 110101 is a binary number.
Binary only uses 0 and 1. It's super important because this is the language computers understand. Computers use 0s and 1s to do everything, from opening apps to playing games, because their parts can only be in two states, like ON or OFF.
The octal number system uses 8 digits. Each octal digit has its own positional value or weight as a power of 8.
It's not something we use in daily life, but it helps make long binary numbers shorter and easier to read. Programmers sometimes use octal when they need a simpler way to look at computer data, especially in older systems or things like file permissions.
In the hexadecimal system, numbers are written or represented with base 16. The numbers are first represented just like in the decimal system, i.e. from 0 to 9. Then, the numbers are represented using the alphabet from A to F.
This one is super helpful in computers too because it makes big binary numbers a lot shorter. It's used when people work with things like memory addresses, error codes, or even colors in websites (like #FF0000 for red).
The topic about number systems made me realize how much numbers affect our lives, even in ways we don't always notice. Before learning this, I honestly thought numbers were just for counting money, solving math problems, or passing school requirements. But after going through the discussion, I now understand that number systems are basically the foundation of how we communicate quantities, how computers work, and how modern technology functions. It feels eye-opening to see something so simple, like digits and symbols, actually playing such a huge role in both everyday life and advanced systems.
The explanation of the decimal system reminded me how natural it feels because we use it everywhere without thinking. It's the system we grew up with, so it makes sense that it's the easiest for humans to understand. What surprised me more were the other number systems like binary, octal, and hexadecimal. At first, they looked complicated and kind of scary, especially binary since it's filled with nothing but 0s and 1s. But after learning that computers rely on these two digits to do basically everything, it suddenly made a lot more sense. It made me appreciate how technology works behind the scenes.
The octal and hexadecimal systems were also interesting because even though we don't use them in our daily lives, they still play important roles in making large binary numbers easier to read and manage. I didn't know that things like website color codes or computer memory use hexadecimal, so learning that felt like discovering a secret language used by programmers.
Understanding number systems made me appreciate the structure behind technology and mathematics more than before. It showed me that numbers are more than just schoolwork; they are part of systems that help the world function smoothly. I realized that even if I don't become a programmer or a mathematician, knowing about number systems helps me understand how the devices I use every day actually work. This lesson made something that seemed complicated feel more approachable, and it changed the way I see numbers and their importance in life.