Add a switch, double the patterns
Two switches can be set in how many ways? Not three. Four. A pattern is one full setting of all the switches, in order.
Step 1 of 3
- One switch: down, or up. 2 patterns.
- Add a switch. 4 patterns.
- Add another switch. 8 patterns.
Each new switch doubles the list of patterns. One copy gets a down in front. The other gets an up. Together, the two copies are the new list.
| Switches in a row | Patterns you can set them to |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 8 |
| 4 | 16 |
| 5 | 32 |
How many switches can label 12 months? Three switches give 8. That is too few. Four give 16. Four are enough.
Six switches give 64, seven give 128 and eight give 256. Eight switches kept together are a byte. A byte gives 256 patterns.
Slide to add a switch. Watch the rows double.
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