Describe the difference between binary and hexadecimal number systems and their typical use in computing.

Describe the difference between binary and hexadecimal number systems and their typical use in computing.

• A. Binary uses base-2 (0 and 1) for machine-level data; hexadecimal uses base-16 to represent binary data compactly, often used in memory addresses and color values.
• B. Binary uses digits 0-9; hexadecimal uses 0-9 and A-F but in reversed order.
• C. Binary is for human-readable numbers; hexadecimal is for decimal values.
• D. Binary is used for audio; hexadecimal for video.

Answer: (A)

Binary and hexadecimal are two numbering systems used in computing, with different bases and typical uses. Binary uses base-2, meaning only two symbols: 0 and 1. These digits map directly to the on/off states of digital circuitry, so binary is the natural language of machine-level data and instructions. Hexadecimal uses base-16, which uses sixteen symbols: 0–9 and A–F. It’s a compact way to represent binary data because each hex digit encodes four bits, so a byte (eight bits) is neatly written as two hex digits. This makes memory addresses, color values, and debugging output much easier to read than long binary strings. The other statements don’t fit because binary does not use digits beyond 0 and 1; hexadecimal isn’t simply binary data in reversed order, and these systems aren’t tied to media types like audio or video.

Binary and hexadecimal are two numbering systems used in computing, with different bases and typical uses. Binary uses base-2, meaning only two symbols: 0 and 1. These digits map directly to the on/off states of digital circuitry, so binary is the natural language of machine-level data and instructions. Hexadecimal uses base-16, which uses sixteen symbols: 0–9 and A–F. It’s a compact way to represent binary data because each hex digit encodes four bits, so a byte (eight bits) is neatly written as two hex digits. This makes memory addresses, color values, and debugging output much easier to read than long binary strings.

The other statements don’t fit because binary does not use digits beyond 0 and 1; hexadecimal isn’t simply binary data in reversed order, and these systems aren’t tied to media types like audio or video.