Binary Numbers

We recently learned about binary numbers. Binary numbers is a language read by computers using only 1's and 0's. While we define the number seventy eight as 78, a computer reads it as 1001111. Weird huh? It's somewhat of a confusing process. To convert a regular number to binary, it helps to start with a table of sorts. You start at the right and work you're way to the left with:

2^0, 2^1, 2^2, 2^3....and so on until the largest number cannot go into whatever number your trying to convert. For the number 529, I would go all the way up to 2^9 which is 512. Since 512 will go into 529 once, the first number is a 1. You're left with 17 and you see how many times it can fit into the remaining numbers. 17 does not fit until 2^4 (16), so you subtract 16 from 17, leaving 1. Then you continue seeing how many times 1 fits in the remaining numbers. So 529 converts to 1000010000. To convert a a binary number into regular, you just do the reverse process. Its tricky, but it can be mastered.

My First Experience With Unix

We recently worked with Unix in my Informatics Lab. Basically, it is a very basic and ancient form of operating systems such as Windows or whatever Mac runs. Windows allows users to perform tasks and makes them simple by clicking on objects and so on. What Unix does is performs the tasks with the exception that you can't actually see the action take place. It's all done by text.

Some of the commands I learned were:

rm - which removes a file, much like clicking on or deleting a file in Windows
clear - which clears whatever is on the screen, much like minimizing or exiting programs to go back to the desktop and starting with "a clean slate".
more - provides more text or information, much like scrolling down a webpage or document with a mouse to see more of something.
cal - provides a calendar much like using Microsoft Outlook's calendar or the calendar on the desktop/toolbar in Windows.

Modeling The World

I felt the "Modeling the World" lecture/notes were interesting, yet too in depth. I would think it is commmon knowledge what a model is. For instance...a model car...it is just that. Its a miniture car modeling the bigger version of it. Models are used to simply and act as something. I felt the lecture and notes were very in depth on the subject, but maybe it will be beneficial when we tackle later lessons and what not.