How To Count In Binary | Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains...

How do you count in binary? On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice learn to count again, but this time in base two. Learn how to count a like a computer!

We discuss our regular base ten number system. How do you count past nine? We learn to count in base five and ask the question: why would anyone do this? Get ready to think too hard about our number system and learn how to count in binary. What is a kilobyte? What number system will aliens communicate with? And finally, can Neil actually get Chuck to count base two?

FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk:

About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

#StarTalk #neildegrassetyson

0:00 - Introduction
0:25 - Base Ten
3:43 - Base Five
5:55 - Base Two
12:17 - Closing Notes

[StarTalk]

What's the highest number you can count to in Base Two?

[manthrpe]

I dealt with Base 2 during my Electrical Engineering studies, and it was never explained like that. So simple!

[russelllomando]

I have a T-Shirt....There's only 10 kinds of people in the world; those who understand Binary & those who don't.

[lysan]

Brilliant! I never understood it in school, and after this explanation, I realized how simple it is. Thanks a lot!

[texuk]

OMG watching Chuck trying to count in binary had me in stitches! 😂 Also another awesome educational episode, as always.

[jestermoon]

I love it when I am with Chuck. Didn't get it but I know you are right.

[bryanedwards]

Computer scientist here. Love having an explainer I finally understand before hand!

[thexalon]

My second grade teacher actually taught this concept, successfully, to 7-year-old me. Which came very much in handy when I started getting into computer science, and had to be able to handle binary (base 2), octal (base 8), and hexadecimal (base 16). Thank you, Ms Jane Yuzkis, if you're out there somewhere.

[billruss]

Back in the days of early computing I had a machine that had binary on / off switches in groups of 16 switches, 1 being on and zero being off. If I wanted to flip a particular switch I had to input the corresponding base 16 number. To count in base 16 after you got to 9, you had to use letters. For example 10 would be A, 15 would be F, 16 would be 10. So if you wanted (the 10th binary digit) you would input the letter A. Quite a challenge.

[wirechair]

I was literally learning base 2 last week out of pure curiosity!!!

[daveshelton]

Always appreciate having my mind bent while dealing with the simplest of concepts!

[TheTrashyMan]

I’m loving the podcast guys. Keep it going!

[topform]

When I was been taught this in school it seemed so hard and you just explained it so easy. Damn!

[mshafer]

My dad taught me Binary code when I was 6 years old. I’m currently 42 years old and absolutely loved this explainer. I can’t do algebra and other math very well but give me binary problems and I can answer it damn near all in my head. Crazy how base 2 math is easier for me then base 10

[Asher]

Can we get a longer video for this? I'll be here for it.

[grapy]

🤣 OMG! This is one of the best episodes. Cant stop laughing and the lesson was great too!

[dennismenis]

Would have been easier to learn with a visual graphic to look at as you explained it. Watching a representation of numbers rolling up with the corresponding base 10 number off to the side might have been helpful

[AdamDaughterson]

Back in the day before we had subnet calculators, we had to do this math ourselves. A lost art, for sure!

[kyusshead]

You say Chuck, I hit like!

Go support Chuck on his YT channel after this!

[geistmachine]

To avoid confusion between metric prefixes like kilo which is base 10^3 by SI definition, we use Kibibyte, KiB, for 2^10 and so on for base 2 prefixes.