Now that we’ve covered some history and common terminology in Chapter 1, our exploration of computing technology can begin in earnest. This chapter describes binary values—the way in which computer hardware represents and manages information. This chapter also puts binary values in the context of all number systems, reminding us of grade school concepts that we now take for granted. You probably already know many of the concepts about binary numbers described in this chapter, but you might not realize that you know them! The rules of all number systems are the same; it’s just a matter of going back to those underlying concepts and applying them in a new base. By making sure we have an understanding of binary values, we pave the way to understanding how computing systems use the binary number system to accomplish their tasks.