Binary Donuts Tutorial!

Hi everyone! We're Amy and Cora, and today we'll talk about binary numbers using donuts shaped like ones and zeroes! What are binary numbers? Binary numbers are the way that computers represent numbers. They only use 1's and 0's and not the other Arabic digits we are used to using (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9). In this tutorial, we'll make donuts that are the binary number representation of your age! 

Here are the steps:


1) First, pick a donut recipe!

Here are some ideas: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

If you have dietary restrictions, here's a gluten free donut recipe and a vegan donut recipe!


2) Calculate your age in binary!

You can use this tutorial here, which is an excerpt from BubbleSort Zines #1.

Here is an example worked out below: 

Cora (BubbleSort Zines intern) is 14, and here are the steps to converting 14 into binary:

Amy (BubbleSort Zines founder) is 29, and here are the steps to converting 29 into binary:

Remember that the binary representation of the original number is the R column read bottom up! 


3) Follow the recipe to make donuts the donuts in 1 and 0 shapes. Make sure that you have enough ones and zeroes to make your age!

If you have a fried donuts recipe, make ones and zeros by forming O shapes and lines with dough. If you have a baked donuts recipe, you can use donut and eclair baking pans!


4) Once the donuts have come out of the oven or fryer and cooled, decorate them with icing and toppings!

There are so many choices when it comes to types of icing you could put on a donut! Some suggestions: lemon, berry, chocolate, salted caramel, or marshmallow!

And there are so many choices when it comes to types of topping you could put on a donut! For instance sprinkles, nonpareil sprinkles, crushed nuts, lucky charms cereal, crushed oreo bits, or shredded coconut (which you can dyed with food dye for an extra cute color!).

We went with chocolate donuts and decorated some with lemon icing and nonpareil sprinkles, and some with marshmallow icing and purple shredded coconut!


5) Pick out the donuts you need to form the binary number you calculated in step 3, and arrange them on a plate! 

This is 14 represented in binary donuts! (1110)

This is 29! (11101)

(The day we made donuts we both wore black dresses with flowers, but it wasn't planned, I promise!) 


6) And don't forget the last step and most important step: eating your donuts!


Further reading: If you're curious, you can read more about binary numbers and why computers use binary numbers here! Or get a copy of the Bubble Sort Zines issue about numbers, counting, and how calculators work!

Love, Cora & Amy

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