Count by 256 (Skip Counting by 256s)

Count by 256

Here we will show you how to count by 256, discuss counting by 256 patterns, and tell you why knowing how to count by 256 matters. To start off, note that Count by 256 means counting in 256s, or count by two hundred fifty-sixes, and it is also called skip counting by 256.

How to count by 256
Normally, we would count by 1 like this: 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., but when we count by 256, we count 256, 512, 768, 1024, and so on.

In other words, to count in intervals of 256 or skip counting by 256, we start with 256 and then add 256 to get the next number, and then continue adding 256 to the previous number to keep counting by 256, like this:

256
256 + 256 = 512
512 + 256 = 768
768 + 256 = 1024
1024 + 256 = 1280
...

You can of course skip count by 256 forever, so it is impossible to make a list of all numbers, but below is a Count by 256 Chart of the first 100 numbers to get you started.

Looking at the chart above, you will see that the first column has the first ten numbers you get when you skip count by 256, the second column has the next ten numbers you get when you skip count by 256, and so forth.

Count by 256 Patterns
We organized the Skip Counting by 256s Chart above in 10 rows and 10 columns so you can easily identify patterns.

Skip counting always creates patterns. Figuring out these patterns may help you if want to count by 256, but don't have the Counting by 256s Chart above. Obviously, one pattern with counting by 256s is that the number increases by 256.

Furthermore, if you look at each row above, each number in the row has the same last digit (ones place). That means that every tenth number has the same last digit.

If you look down the columns, you will see that the last digit (ones place) repeats itself in blocks of 5 over and over. The pattern of the last digit when you count by 256 goes 6, 2, 8, 4, 0 and 6, 2, 8, 4, 0 and so on for as long as you count by 256.

Why Count by 256?
We think that understanding and learning about skip counting by 256 is important, because it teaches you how the arithmetic operations fit together. Below are some examples of what we mean.

When you count by two hundred fifty-six, you are also creating a list of multiples of 256 that you can use in math when you need the least common multiple. 256 times n equals the nth multiple or skip count of 256.

When you skip count by 256, you are also creating a list of numbers that 256 is divisible by. On top of that, skip counting by 256 is the same as making the 256 times table.

Skip Counting
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Count by 257
Here is the next number on our list that we used to skip count.