This conversion is simple enough to perform in your head once you understand how the binary language works.
Each digit location in a binary number has a specific value if the digit isn’t a zero.
To see how this works, take the binary number 11001010.
In this case, since the digit is a zero, the value for this place would be zero.
Next, move on to the next digit.
If it’s a one, then calculate two to the power of one.
Make a note of this value as well.
In this example, the value is two to the power of one, which is two.
Continue to repeat this process until you get all the way to the leftmost digit.
However, computers need a way to represent negative numbers using binary as well.
Because of this, computers use signed binary numbers.
Reading a signed binary number is almost the same as unsigned, with one minor difference.
To determine the sign, examine the leftmost bit.
If it’s a one, then the number is negative.
If it’s a zero, then the number is positive.
Larger numbers are written by adding additional ones or zeros to the binary number.
