Why Did Thomas Harriot Invent Binary?

The article explores the invention of binary numeration and arithmetic by Thomas Harriot, an English mathematician, astronomer, and alchemist. It challenges the traditional credit given to Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and reveals that Harriot used binary notation as early as the 17th century. Harriot's use of binary was influenced by his weighing experiments, where he recorded measurements using a system of part ounces and grains. The article highlights the importance of Harriot's recording system in the development of binary notation and discusses his exploration of binary arithmetic. Despite his achievement, Harriot's work remained unpublished until the 20th century and did not impact the adoption of binary in computer arithmetic. [Extracted from the article]