Previous Topic	Exploring whole numbers ( Number Operations & Number Theory ) Term    : 1  Module : 1 - Capturing Data  Unit 1      : Numbers Made Easy  (  History Of Numbers )                             Today's Decimal and Binary Number Systems
The Decimal System	Today we use the very popular decimal numbering system in our every day lives without sometimes noticing some of it's very special and important features. An example of this is the little significance we pay to the important invention of a numeral for nought "nothing" which in our case is zero. Another important and very significant feature of our decimal system is it's strategic place value system of Units, Tens, etc. Example of the importance of place value can be seen in the difference of value of the numerals 2,4,5, and 6 when placed in different positions as shown in this example: 6542 has a value over six thousand, while 2465 only has a value of two thousand, four hundred and sixtyfive. This is evident as seen in the table below which indicates the value of digits when placed in various positions. The first column is the Units column, then Tens, Hundreds, Thousands etc. as shown. Also note that the decimal system consists of just 10 numerals which are the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. This is however a lot more than the binary numbering system which as the name implies, only has two numerals which are the digits 1 and 0.
The Binary System	Without our binary numbering system, computers and electronics would not be common place today or would be very different indeed. This is because computers operate using the binary system of ones and zeros. These two digits can be easily represented in a computer or electronic circuit since they all only have two states (1 and 0 or ON and OFF). Like decimal the value of binary numbers depends on their positioning or place value as can be seen in the table below.
Importance Of Place Value In Numbering Systems
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