We all grew up with the decimal system - being taught the numerals from 0 through 9. After 9, a second place value is introduced, and we obtain 10. We've learned how to conduct mathematical operations in this system. Because here are ten symbols (digits), the decimal system is called "base 10".

Computers don't have the luxury of using 10 different representations for anything. Computing operates on voltages. For a computer to run, a constant, although minimal, amount of electricity (voltage) is required. There are only two states in a computer's memory cell or processing "gate": there is either a voltage or there is not. The absense of voltage (not counting the small constant voltage that is required) is referred to as "0" and the presense of voltage is "1".

Therefore, computing has two symbols: 0 and 1. For that reason, it is called "base 2" - or binary. It's numbering system works exactly the same way that base 10 does: when there are no more symbols usable in the first place value, a second place value is created, and so forth.

So, counting is base 2 (called binary) is:

Binary | Decial Equivalent
-------+------------------
.....0 | 0
.....1 | 1
....10 | 2
....11 | 3
...100 | 4
...101 | 5
...110 | 6
...111 | 7
..1000 | 8
..1001 | 9
..1010 | 10
..1011 | 11
..1100 | 12
..1101 | 13
..1110 | 14
..1111 | 15

So... when there's a computer joke that implies only geeks will understand the joke, instead of saying "there are two kinds of people in the world, those who understand the decimal system and those who don't", the nerds say "there are 10 [the binary equivalent of 2] kinds of people in the world, those who panic, and those who Don't Panic".

Sudoku uses a 9x9 grid with 9 different symbols (digits).

The puzzle-joke is a bit of a stretch because Sudoku only uses the non-zero decimal digits. The non-zero decimal digits in binary consists of only the digit 1. That means that the only possible Sudoku puzzle in binary is a 1x1 grid - a single box, populated with the digit 1.

However, geeks being what they are, trying to show the world that they do have a sense of humour, invented the binary Sudoku puzzle, where both the 0 and 1 are used. Therefore, you can now have a 2x2 grid. Using 1 and 0, there are only two possible grids:

╔═══╦═══╗ ╔═══╦═══╗
║ 0 ║ 1 ║ ║ 1 ║ 0 ║
╠═══╬═══╣ ╠═══╬═══╣
║ 1 ║ 0 ║ ║ 0 ║ 1 ║
╚═══╩═══╝ ╚═══╩═══╝

All one needs is any one digit from the the entire puzzle to know the rest of the solution. So the joke is that there is only two solutions, and you that only need to know one digit in the whole thing to solve it all, and that the newbie version gives you two digits, and the expert version only gives you one digit, but they have the same solution, even though they gave the opposite type of digit to start with.

Geek. :p

With apologies to DeNucci
 

I resemble that remark.

At least we aren't talking in ASCII codes or Hex yet. :eek:

Sorry geeks
 

Geeks rule
 

Michael "Air" Jordan :

- Jordan will make over $300,000 a game, $10,000 a minute assuming he averages about 30 minutes a game.

- Assuming $40 mil in endorsements next year, he'll be making $178,100 a day (working or not)!

And something to cheer you up after all of this. . . - Jordan will only have to have this income for 270 more years to have a net worth equivalent to that of Bill Gates. . .

Or does that make you more sick?

But I bet Bill Gates is wearing Michaels underwear.

Jugs:

I still carry my sliderule on my belt in its sheath. Do you? I am glad someone else in this forum understands binary besides me.

MTD, Sr.

Understand binary!? I use to write software in assembly language! :p

Yeah, me too.

Several years ago, while cleaning out some stuff from my parents house, my daughter came to me with several cases she had opened & had no idea what these things were that were inside. They were my father's slide rules.

I am proud to say that I am too young to have ever used a slide rule. Buy my father did have one! And I bet I still know how to use it! LOL

Say what...?
 

If only you and DEAD people can read hex, how many people can read hex?

Faulty premise. Lots of people can read hex. ;) DEAE

Fat geek.