Before we calculate the binary number . Let's first take a look at decimal addition.
As an example we have : 26 plus 36,
26
+36
To add these two numbers, we first consider the "ones" column and calculate 6 plus 6, which results in 12. Since 12 is greater than 9 (remembering that base 10 operates with digits 0-9), we "carry" the 1 from the "ones" column to the "tens column" and leave the 2 in the "ones" column.
Considering the "tens" column, we calculate 1 + (2 + 3), which results in 6. Since 6 is less than 9, there is nothing to "carry" and we leave 6 in the "tens" column.
26
+36
62
Binary addition
Binary addition works in the same way, except that only 0's and 1's can be used, instead of the whole spectrum of 0-9. This actually makes binary addition much simpler than decimal addition, as we only need to remember the following:0 + 0 = 0
0 + 1 = 1
1 + 0 = 1
1 + 1 = 10
As an example of binary addition we have,
101
+101
a) To add these two numbers, we first consider the "ones" column and calculate 1 + 1, which (in binary) results in 10. We "carry" the 1 to the "tens" column, and the leave the 0 in the "ones" column.
b) Moving on to the "tens" column, we calculate 1 + (0 + 0), which gives 1. Nothing "carries" to the "hundreds" column, and we leave the 1 in the "tens" column.
c) Moving on to the "hundreds" column, we calculate 1 + 1, which gives 10. We "carry" the 1 to the "thousands" column, leaving the 0 in the "hundreds" column.
101
+101
1010
Another example of binary addition:
1011
+1011
10110
Note that in the "tens" column, we have 1 + (1 + 1), where the first 1 is "carried" from the "ones" column. Recall that in binary,
1 + 1 + 1 = 10 + 1
= 11
Binary subtraction
Binary Subtraction is simplified as well, as long as we remember how subtraction and the base 2 number system. Let's first look at an easy example.111
- 10
101
Note that the difference is the same if this was decimal subtraction. Also similar to decimal subtraction is the concept of "borrowing." Watch as "borrowing" occurs when a larger digit, say 8, is subtracted from a smaller digit, say 5, as shown below in decimal subtraction.
35
- 8
27
For 10 minus 1, 1 is borrowed from the "tens" column for use in the "ones" column, leaving the "tens" column with only 2. The following examples show "borrowing" in binary subtraction.
10 100 1010
- 1 - 10 - 110
1 10 100
Exercises
1. 101 + 11 =
2. 111 + 111 =
3. 1010 + 1010 =
4. 11101 + 1010 =
5. 11111 + 11111 =
6. 110 - 10 =
7. 101 - 11 =
8. 1001 - 11 =
9. 1101 - 11 =
10. 10001 - 100 =
