How to explain binary to this person

[Angilion]

After telling me I was wrong and that all numbers can be represented in 8 bits, he then went to a colleague and they both started talking crap about how I was wrong and I don't know anything apparently.

O well guess I don't...

You're all wrong!


All numbers can be represented by 12 characters (0-9, +/- and a decimal point).

4 bits is enough for 16 numbers, so it's enough for those 12 characters and 4 spares.

Therefore all numbers can be represented in 4 bits and using 8 is a waste.


It makes a lot more sense than their position.


If they somehow really don't understand that 256 numbers (or any number of digits in any base) is high enough to uniquely represent every single one of an infinitely large group, you're not going to be able to explain it to them.

 

[estebanrey]

You're all wrong!


All numbers can be represented by 12 characters (0-9, +/- and a decimal point).

4 bits is enough for 16 numbers, so it's enough for those 12 characters and 4 spares.

Therefore all numbers can be represented in 4 bits and using 8 is a waste.


It makes a lot more sense than their position.


If they somehow really don't understand that 256 numbers (or any number of digits in any base) is high enough to uniquely represent every single one of an infinitely large group, you're not going to be able to explain it to them.

I think you're confusing numbers with digits.

 

[planty]

Do you work in local government?

 

[kitkat9933]

Do you work in local government?

Sorta - In a school =)

 

[AndrewNR]

Your quote implies 2 types of people, this would be 01, not 10.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defi...hose+who+understand+binary+and+those+who+dont

0000 0000 is 0
0000 0001 is 1
0000 0010 is 2
0000 0011 is 3
0000 0100 is 4
0000 0101 is 5
0000 0110 is 6
etc etc

1111 1111 is 255.

So the joke using 10 is correct.

 

[Ryan-3]

Ask him to write 1 million with only 6 digits

1x10^6

 

[Terminal_Boy]

1x10^6

Winner, winner, Chicken dinner!

 

[V4NT0M]

Your quote implies 2 types of people, this would be 01, not 10.

01101100 01101111 01101100

To OP, I wonder if we can describe how stupid they are in 8 bits or less.

Put large number in this converter: http://www.binaryhexconverter.com/decimal-to-binary-converter
See a result with more than 8 bits.
????
Profit

 

[Angilion]

I think you're confusing numbers with digits.

I thought it would be obvious enough that I wasn't being serious.

 

[Salsa]

What is 'poop letterbox' in hexadecimal ?

706f6f7020696e20686973206c6574746572626f78

Or if you prefer bin...

01010000 01101111 01101111 01110000
00100000 01101001 01101110 00100000
01101000 01101001 01110011 00100000
01101100 01100101 01110100 01110100
01100101 01110010 01100010 01101111
01111000



/Salsa

 

[thepharcyde]

Binary 0 or 1

on off

ITM/OTM in exchange for a premium

 

[Skeeter]

Your quote implies 2 types of people, this would be 01, not 10.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defi...hose+who+understand+binary+and+those+who+dont

0000 0000 is 0
0000 0001 is 1
0000 0010 is 2
0000 0011 is 3
0000 0100 is 4
0000 0101 is 5
0000 0110 is 6
etc etc

1111 1111 is 255.

So the joke using 10 is correct.

This. Binary is read right to left in bytes isn't it? 01000000 would be 64.

 

[kitkat9933]

This. Binary is read right to left in bytes isn't it? 01000000 would be 64.

I believe he means as in 1 or 0 (on or off).

 

[Sliver]

I believe he means as in 1 or 0 (on or off).

Indeed. But Skeeter hates being wrong.

 

[Skeeter]

Indeed. But Skeeter hates being wrong.

Did you miss the question mark?

I'll gladly be corrected. I'm not the only one who thinks I'm correct?

Wikipedia agrees

 

[D.P.]

Did you miss the question mark?

I'll gladly be corrected. I'm not the only one who thinks I'm correct?

Wikipedia agrees

You are correct, 10 is normally interpreted as 2. but it depends on endedness.

 

[Sliver]

Did you miss the question mark?

I'll gladly be corrected. I'm not the only one who thinks I'm correct?

Wikipedia agrees

I know you're not a moron, so I know you know what my initial point was, which was correct. Stop trying to score e-peen points with an audience that doesn't bother to count.

 

[K.C. Leblanc]

You might just to have to accept that there are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

EDIT: Damn, beaten to it.

 

[dowie]

He seems to think every number can be represented in 8 bits.

well that is quite easy then, just give an example of any number that can't

 

[peterwalkley]

well that is quite easy then, just give an example of any number that can't

Pi or square root of 2 for example.