ChatterBank1 min ago
Who Invented Binary Numbers?
53 Answers
Who invented binary numbers?
How many different binary codes have been invented?
How many different binary codes have been invented?
Answers
No one invented binary, in the same way that no one invented base 10 or indeed base N. Maths was and is being discovered. Binary is useful in computers so it was necessary to discover it. By binary code I assume you mean computing code systems. There are many but mostly these days there are 3, ASCII, EBCDIC and BASE64.
14:07 Fri 24th May 2013
On a related subject I am never convinced by the argument that we count in tens in everyday life because we have ten fingers.
Assuming that two closed fists represent zero, we need only nine digits (fingers) after that to represent 1-9. To need ten digits as well as a zero we'd have to be counting in elevens.
Assuming that two closed fists represent zero, we need only nine digits (fingers) after that to represent 1-9. To need ten digits as well as a zero we'd have to be counting in elevens.
We needed ten digits for Roman numerals, chakka. These can be represented by use of the ten. I to IIII by fingers, the alternative, IV, being by 1 finger before the V gap of thumb and forefinger, V by that gap, VI by the gap plus one finger and so on. X is both thumbs crossed. VIIII is the gap plus 4 digits; the alternative, IX, being shown by one finger before crossed thumbs.
As Torax3 suggests somewhere in this thread, I have been down the pub, several times indeed, since this question was put forward. Once I had Leibniz I was happy to remind myself a little about him eg that he came from Leipzig and that he can be connected with the date 1700 or some similar number. The next thing I wanted to know was about the different types of binary code that are in existence. Torax3 came up with the answer. Thanks very much for that. As for the debate as to whether numbers exist or were invented, I enjoyed that very much. I am sure that there is both an answer and a proof to go with it. Long ago I realised that you would never see a number 2 rolling down the road in the same way that you might see a bus. The 2 is invented. More recently I have been thinking about how some numbers do exist in nature - 2 is everywhere in reflective symmetry, and there are examples where numbers such as 13 can be found (perhaps in sunflowers). I started to compile a list of where our integers could be found and which ones are findable. I reached the idea that numbers in their hundreds could be found in atoms which of course have atomic numbers to account for the number of protons that they have and a mass number for the additional nuetrons in the nucleus. I did not get into any higher numbers than that and I did not make an exhaustive list to see which numbers fit and which numbers are missing. I err to the side that believes that maths is invented not discovered, partly because I feel this is so but also because I do not see the mathematical operators in action. I look forward to finding out the opposite because this might be a break-through in our understanding mathematics ever more deeply. Perhaps the comments I liked the most are about the great mathematician David Bool. I wonder if he should be invented or discovered. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread of answers. I do not know if this late addition from me will rekindle any interest. Perhaps I should start anew. Thanks again, and good thinking.
