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New
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Year 10
OCR

Representation using binary sequences

I can describe how computers represent data and instructions using binary sequences.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
OCR

Representation using binary sequences

I can describe how computers represent data and instructions using binary sequences.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Information is data that has been processed to provide meaning.
  2. Sequences of symbols are used to represent data.
  3. Binary digits are combined to create binary sequences.
  4. Computers use binary sequences to represent all data and instructions that they process.

Keywords

  • Information - data that has been processed to provide meaning

  • Data - facts and figures in their raw form

  • Binary digit (bit) - the basic unit of data within a computer system that has the value 0 or 1

Common misconception

Binary is only used to represent numerical data.

Binary digits can be used to form sequences that can be used to represent any data. As long as it is identified what each sequence represents, binary digits can become any form of data or instructions.


To help you plan your year 10 computer science lesson on: Representation using binary sequences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Draw parallels with other occurrences of similar symbols being used for different sequences that pupils are familiar with in their everyday lives. For example, using digits in a phone number to represent a way of contacting people rather than being used to count objects.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the primary purpose of using binary in computers?
to represent decimal numbers
to store text data only
Correct answer: to represent all data and instructions
to perform arithmetic operations
Q2.
Which of the following is a binary sequence?
Correct answer: 10101
12345
67890
ABCDEF
Q3.
How does a computer understand an image?
as a single pixel
as a written description
as a sound file
Correct answer: as a series of binary numbers
Q4.
What is the binary representation of the decimal number 5?
Correct Answer: 101
Q5.
What is a byte?
Correct Answer: 8 bits, eight bits
Q6.
How many colours can be represented with 1 bit?
Correct Answer: 2, two

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the term to its definition.
Correct Answer:information,processed data
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processed data

Correct Answer:data,raw facts
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raw facts

Correct Answer:bit,smallest unit of data
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smallest unit of data

Q2.
How is data processed in a computer?
Correct answer: as binary sequences
as decimal numbers
as text documents
as images
Q3.
Arrange the following binary numbers in ascending order: 111, 101, 110.
1 - 101
2 - 110
3 - 111
Q4.
Which statement about binary is not correct?
Binary can be used to represent text.
Correct answer: Binary is only used for numerical data.
Binary can encode images.
Binary sequences can represent instructions.
Q5.
How are instructions represented in a computer's binary system?
as a sequence of random numbers
through text descriptions
by storing images
Correct answer: using sequences of binary digits
Q6.
In what way does binary represent sound in a computer?
as a sequence of images
through text files
Correct answer: by converting sound waves into binary sequences
by using decimal numbers