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A black-and-white picture from 0s and 1s in a spreadsheet

A rule for a grid of cells: type 0s and 1s, then fill each 1 black and each 0 white so the code shows as a picture. Change one digit to change one pixel.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Representing Data with Numbers — Module 31

Understanding A black-and-white picture from 0s and 1s in a spreadsheet in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: Typing one digit per cell gives a row of 0s and 1s. The rules then colour the 1s black and the 0s white, giving white, black, black, black, white. Each digit controls one pixel, so editing a single digit changes just that one cell of the picture. In our black-and-white code, 1 is filled black and 0 is filled white. Keep the rule the same so the picture makes sense. The rule fills 0 with white, so the cell looks empty. Black is 1 and white is 0, so black, white, white, black is 1 0 0 1.

Common mistakes: In this code 1 means black. The rule should be 'Rule: if 1, fill black'. White is used for 0. A 0 must be filled white. If 0s were black too, the whole grid would be black and the picture would disappear. It should be 'Rule: if 0, fill white'.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 73–84) and word search (Modules 73–104).

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Learning
Duo
In a spreadsheet pixel picture, which rule colours the cells?
1 = black, 0 = white1 = white, 0 = black
Matches
Rule: cells equal to 1 are filled white
↓
The rule uses the wrong colour. 1 should be black, not white, so the 1s would blend into the white 0s and the picture would not show.
Applying
Meanings
Term
1 = black, 0 = white
Meaning
A rule for a grid of cells: type 0s and 1s, then fill each 1 black and each 0 white so the code shows as a picture. Change one digit to change one pixel.
Practice
=IF(D2=0,"White","Black")
Testing
Gaps
Rule 1: if the cell is , fill it black
Check Answer
Spots
2B1: 0
3Rule: if 1, fill white

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Quick Questions

1. In a spreadsheet pixel picture, which rule colours the cells?
A. 1 = black, 0 = white ✓
B. 1 = white, 0 = black
In our black-and-white code, 1 is filled black and 0 is filled white. Keep the rule the same so the picture makes sense.
2. You type 1 0 1 0 1 into five cells in a row. What will the row look like after the rule is applied?
A. black, white, black, white, black ✓
B. white, black, white, black, white
Each 1 becomes black and each 0 becomes white, so 1 0 1 0 1 gives black, white, black, white, black.
3. What does each cell in the grid stand for?
A. One pixel of the picture ✓
B. One whole picture
Each cell is a single pixel. Many pixels together make the whole picture.
4. A cell holds the digit 0. What colour does the rule fill it?
A. Black
B. White ✓
The rule fills 0 with white, so the cell looks empty.
5. You want to turn one black pixel white. What is the quickest fix?
A. Retype every number in the grid
B. Change that cell's 1 to a 0 ✓
Editing one digit changes only one pixel. The rule recolours the cell for you.

Match the Pairs

1 = black → A rule that fills every cell holding a 1 with black
0 = white → A rule that fills every cell holding a 0 with white
A row of five pixels is typed into five cells as 0s and 1s, ready for the colour rules to turn it into a picture → 0 1 1 1 0
Changing one digit in a cell, such as typing 0 over a 1, turns exactly one pixel from black to white → 1 → 0
Rule: cells equal to 1 are filled white → The rule uses the wrong colour. 1 should be black, not white, so the 1s would blend into the white 0s and the picture would not show.
Row typed as: 0,1,1,1,0 in one cell → All the digits are crammed into one cell. Each pixel needs its own cell, so only one cell can be coloured.

Key Term

1 = black, 0 = white
A rule for a grid of cells: type 0s and 1s, then fill each 1 black and each 0 white so the code shows as a picture. Change one digit to change one pixel.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Rule 1: if the cell is 1, fill it black
Hint: Type the digit that stands for a black pixel.
2. Rule 2: if the cell is 0, fill it white
Hint: Type the colour that the other digit makes.
3. Picture: black, black, white Row 1 code: 1, 1, 0
Hint: Type the digit that matches the white pixel at the end of the row.
4. To turn pixel B1 from black to white: change B1 from 1 to 0
Hint: Type the new digit to type into the cell so the pixel becomes white.
5. Rule: if cell value = 1, fill black
Hint: Type the comparison symbol that checks whether the cell matches the number.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A A1: 1
B B1: 0
C Rule: if 1, fill white
D Rule: if 0, fill white
Line C — In this code 1 means black. The rule should be 'Rule: if 1, fill black'. White is used for 0.
Question 2
A Row 1: 1 1 1
B Row 2: 1 0 1
C Row 3: 1 1 1
D Rule: if 0, fill black
Line D — A 0 must be filled white. If 0s were black too, the whole grid would be black and the picture would disappear. It should be 'Rule: if 0, fill white'.
Question 3
A Goal: black row, white row
B Row 1: 1 1 1 1 1
C Row 2: 0 0 1 0 0
D Rule: 1 black, 0 white
Line C — The goal says row 2 is all white, so every digit in it must be 0. The 1 would make a black pixel. It should be 'Row 2: 0 0 0 0 0'.
Question 4
A Goal: black pixel in centre
B Row: 0 1 0 0 0
C Rule: 1 black, 0 white
Line B — The black pixel should be in the centre, so the 1 goes in the middle (third) cell. Here it is in the second cell. It should be 'Row: 0 0 1 0 0'.
Question 5
A Select the grid A1:E5
B Rule 1: 2 = black
C Rule 2: 0 = white
Line B — A black-and-white picture uses only the digits 0 and 1. The black rule should look for 1, not 2. It should be 'Rule 1: 1 = black'.

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