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Intro to Computer Science (ICS3U/C)
  • An Introduction to Computer Science
  • Videos & Slides
  • Unit 1: In the Beginning
    • The History of Computers
    • Binary & Logic
      • Bits and Bytes (Binary)
      • Transistors (Changing Bits)
      • Logic Gates
        • Poster
        • Logic.ly
    • The Parts of a Computer
  • Unit 2: Intro to Code
    • How Do We Code?
      • Coding Conventions (Rules)
      • Commenting Code
    • What is HTML?
      • Hello World! (in HTML)
      • HTML Slideshow
    • Hello World!
    • Input / Output
      • The Console
      • Prompt, Alert, Confirm
    • Variables & Data
      • Strings (Text)
      • Numbers (Values)
        • Converting & Rounding
        • The Math Object
          • Random Numbers
      • Booleans
        • Truthiness
      • Arrays
  • Unit 3: Control Flow
    • Conditionals (if this, do that)
      • If...Else
        • Logical Operators
      • Switch / Case
      • Ternary Operators
    • Loops (Repeating Code)
      • For...Loop
      • While & Do/While Loops
    • Debugging
  • Unit 4: Functions
    • Functional Programming
    • User Defined Functions
      • Hoisting and Scope
    • Calling a JS Function
  • TL;DR
    • Programming Basics
    • Slideshows & Demos
    • Javascript Syntax Poster
  • Advanced Topics
    • Recursion
    • Structures & Algorithms
    • Mmm... Pi
  • External Links
    • Typing Club!
    • repl.it
    • Khan Academy
    • Geek Reading
    • ECOO CS Contest
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  1. Unit 1: In the Beginning

Binary & Logic

Digital processors require electricity to work. But how do they make decisions or calculate something as simple as 2+2 or as complex as ray tracing in graphics?

PreviousThe History of ComputersNextBits and Bytes (Binary)

Last updated 6 years ago

How does a computer compute?

Before the computer, wheels and cogs were used in calculating machines. These were clunky and required manipulation by hand. They were also slow.

Electricity travels very close to the speed of light (slowed by the physical wires transporting the electrons). If we can use electricity to add, subtract, multiply, and divide then we can quickly compute any combination of mathematics - close to the speed of light! But how do we use flowing electrons to do math?

digital
analog
X-15 Analog computer via Wikimedia Commons