What is the maximum value represented by a single byte?

A single byte consists of 8 bits, and each bit can hold a value of either 0 or 1. The maximum value that can be represented by an 8-bit binary number is achieved when all bits are set to 1. In binary, this configuration is represented as 11111111.

To convert this binary number to decimal, you calculate its value based on the positional values of each bit:

• The leftmost bit represents 2^7 (128)

• The next bit represents 2^6 (64)

• The next bit represents 2^5 (32)

• The next bit represents 2^4 (16)

• The next bit represents 2^3 (8)

• The next bit represents 2^2 (4)

• The next bit represents 2^1 (2)

• The rightmost bit represents 2^0 (1)

Adding these values together gives:

128 + 64 + 32 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 255.

Thus, the maximum value that can be represented by a single byte is indeed 255. This is foundational in computing, where bytes are commonly used to represent numerical values in various