Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science
1.1Number systems
Number systems in Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science: what the syllabus expects you to know, the learning objectives and how to practise.
Subtopic120 practice questions6 lessons
Learning objectives
What the syllabus expects you to be able to do.
- 1.1.1Understand how and why computers use binary to represent all forms of data.
- 1.1.2aUnderstand the denary, binary and hexadecimal number systems.
- 1.1.2bConvert positive integers (up to 16 bits) between denary and binary, denary and hexadecimal, and hexadecimal and binary.
- 1.1.3Explain why hexadecimal is a useful representation and identify where it is used.
- 1.1.4aAdd two positive 8-bit binary integers.
- 1.1.4bExplain overflow and why it happens in binary addition.
- 1.1.5Carry out single and multiple logical shifts on a positive 8-bit integer and describe their effect.
- 1.1.6Represent positive and negative 8-bit integers in two's complement and convert to and from it.
Lessons
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Binary addition and overflow
30 min
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Converting between binary and denary
30 min
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Hexadecimal: conversions and uses
35 min
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Logical binary shifts
25 min
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Number systems: why computers use binary
25 min
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Two's complement: negative binary numbers
30 min
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Sample question
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