Basically, 1024 was nicer to the computer, and it was so close to 1000 that they decided to use it.

just to nitpick, 2^20 is 1048576

Also, converting from binary->decimal and decimal->binary is pretty easy, even easier if you have a newish calculator

Binary -> Decimal

This is the easiest, if you have a number like 01101001:

    +------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+| Bit Number | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |+------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+| Binary     | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |+------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+  

You just use a formula like this:

  number = (0 * 2^7) + (1 * 2^6) + (1 * 2^5) + ... + (0 * 2^1) + (1 * 2^0)       = 105  

Decimal -> Binary

This one is a bit more tricky, but basically, if you're converting to an 8-bit binary number, you first see if 2^7 is smaller than the number, if so, set bit 7 and subtract 2^7. Continue with 2^6, 2^5, etc. So, for 105, you go like this:

  number = 105binary = 00000000  is 105 >= 2^7 = 128? no.  is 105 >= ? yes.    number -= 64, = 41    binary = 01000000  is 41 >= 2^5 = 32? yes    number -= 32, = 9    binary = 01100000  is 9 >= 2^4 = 16? no  is 9 >= 2^3 = 8? yes    number -= 16, = 1    binary = 01101000  is 1 >= 2^2 = 4? no  is 1 >= 2^1 = 2? no  is 1 >= 2^0 = 1? yes    number -= 1, = 0    binary = 01101001    

There you go!

If course, it's much easier doing it with a calculator, though You could write a program to do it for you as well (if you look at the GD.net mouse pad post, you'll see that a lot of people did that so they could "read" the binary on the mouse pad)

War Worlds - A 3D Real-Time Strategy game in development.

Edited by - Dean Harding on August 21, 2001 6:25:27 AM