What is the total number of distinct values a 2-bit binary number can represent?

A 2-bit binary number uses two individual bits, each of which can have two possible values: 0 or 1. To determine the total number of distinct values that can be represented by a 2-bit binary number, one can calculate this using the formula for the number of combinations of bits, which is given by (2^n), where (n) is the number of bits.

In this case, since (n) is 2 (for the two bits), the calculation would be:

[

2^2 = 4

]

Thus, the distinct values represented by a 2-bit binary number are:

• 00 (which represents the decimal value 0)

• 01 (which represents the decimal value 1)

• 10 (which represents the decimal value 2)

• 11 (which represents the decimal value 3)

This results in a total of four distinct values. As such, the choice indicating four distinct values is indeed the correct answer.