b_book1.gif (162 bytes) Data - Number systems

Computer number system - binary

  • Electrically the only workable units were ON or OFF.
    Known as BI stable uniTS (or Flip/Flops) ==> BITS (Binary digITS)
  • The binary system proved to be the most useable number system in a computer, since each binary digit has only two states.
  • 8 binary digits (BITS) make one byte on our Personal computers.
  • Only integers can be stored in binary, but this is an accurate and efficient way.
  • Each decimal number has an equivalent number in Binary (as do Octal and Hexadecimal)

In MS-Access the integer data types are represented in binary and may take the following form.

Setting Description Decimal precision Storage size
Byte 0 to 255 (no fractions) None 1 byte
Integer –32,768 to 32,767 (no fractions) None 2 bytes
Long Integer (Default)  –2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647 (no fractions) None 4 bytes

[Rev 17/9/98] 12/5/97 © 1997-98 V/2-Com (Verhaart), P O Box 8415, Havelock North, New Zealand.