Introduction: What is a Number System?

You probably already know what a number system is - ever hear of binary numbers or hexadecimal numbers? Simply put, a number system is a way to represent numbers. We are used to using the base-10 number system, which is also called decimal. Other common number systems include base-16 (hexadecimal), base-8 (octal), and base-2 (binary).

In this article, I'll explain what these different systems are, how to work with them, and why knowing about them will help you.

Base-10 Mathematically

You may have noticed a pattern by now. Let's look at what is going on mathematically, using 2347 as an example.

As you saw, there are 2 groups of a thousand. Not coincidentally, 1000 = 10*10*10 which can also be written as 10³.
There are 3 groups of a hundred. Again, not coincidentally, 100 = 10*10 or 10².
There are 4 groups of ten, and, 10 = 10¹.
Finally, there are 7 groups of one, and 1 = 10⁰. (That may seem strange, but any number to the power of 0 equals 1, by definition.)

This is essentially the definition of base-10. To get a value of a number in base-10, we simply follow that pattern. Here are a few more examples:

892 = 8*10²+9*10¹+2*10⁰
1147 = 1*10³+1*10²+4*10¹+7*10⁰
53 = 5*10¹+3*10⁰

Admittedly, this all seems a little silly. We all know what value a base-10 number is because we always use base-10, and it comes naturally to us. As we'll see soon, though, if we understand the patterns in the background of base-10, we can understand other bases better.

Binary to Octal and Octal to Binary Conversion

We know that binary and octal are two different kinds of number systems whose bases are 2 and 8 respectively, i.e. they use 2 and 8 digits respectively to represent their numbers and these numbers are 0, 1 (for binary) and 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (for octal). Now we can transform any numbers of these number system to other type of number system directly without going through the decimal numbers. What is being tried to said here that to transform a binary number into octal number we can first convert it into decimal number and then convert that number into octal number or we can convert the binary number directly into octal number, certainly the second method is more adaptable. This is also true for the reverse function, i.e. to transform an octal number into binary number. The two methods are described in the following articles.
Binary to Octal the binary numbers are comprised of only 0 and 1 we have to first divide the binary number into group of 3 digits starting from the right most side, and balancing the number of digits by putting appropriate number of zeroes. Now we have certain numbers of group of binary numbers, then we have to convert those groups into decimal numbers and write in the same order in which they used to be. Now this is the octal equivalent of that binary number. If we consider an example, this will be very easy to understand.
Let us take a binary number say 101101001₂
Now dividing it into group of three digits we will find the following pattern
101|101|001
Now writing the equivalent decimal number of each group we get
5 | 5 | 1
So the equivalent octal number is 551₈

Octal to Binary Conversion

Now if we just imagine the reverse of the above explained operation we will be able to find out the method for converting octal number into binary number ourselves. In this case each of the digits of the octal number is converted into its equivalent binary number and they are merged into the same order they were when they were as octal numbers, the leftmost zeroes are omitted from the number and we get the equivalent binary number. An example is given hereby to explain the method easily.
Let us take a number 34₈
Now the binary equivalent of 3 is 011 and that of 4 is 100.
So, the desired binary equivalent of the octal number is 111002.

Decimal to Octal Conversion

Any decimal number can be converted into octal number system by dividing it by the largest possible power of 8.
The remainder then again divided by the largest possible power of 8, this method is repeated until the power of 8 is 1 and the remainder obtained is less than 8. The result is obtained by arranging the obtained quotients as they are acquired. The method will be clear by a simple example Let us convert 130₁₀ into octal number First of all we have to divide it by the largest possible power of 8 i.e. 8² 130 / 8² = 2
130 - 8²×2 = 2
2 / 8¹ = 0
2 - 0 = 2
2/8⁰ = 2
So the octal equivalent of 130₁₀ is 202₈

Octal to Decimal Conversion

Similarly any octal number can be converted into decimal number. The method is quite similar to the transformation of any binary number to decimal number, the only difference is that in this case the 2 s will be replaced by 8 and everything else i.e. the methods will remain same. So it is quite clear if we want to change any octal number into decimal number we have to start multiplying the digits of the number from right hand side with increasing powers of 8 staring from 0 and finally summing up all the products. The method will be clearer with an example.
Suppose we want to convert 1238 into decimal number, so we have to follow the procedure as shown below
123₈ = 1×8² + 2×8¹ + 3×8⁰ = 64 + 16 + 3 = 73
So, the decimal equivalent of the number 123₈ is 73₁₀

Binary to Hexadecimal and Hex to Binary Conversion

As we are going through the basics of the digital electronics the first and very important part is understanding the different types of number system. As we have already discussed about the properties of various number system and interrelation among some of them, now this is the time to interrelate binary and hexadecimal number system. The conversion from one number system is quite easy and we will discuss both the cases in the following articles i.e. from binary to hexadecimal and from hexadecimal to binary conversion.

Binary to hexadecimal Conversion

To convert a binary number to hexadecimal number first we have to divide the digits of the binary number into groups of four taking from the right most side of the number and in the last group the number of digits is made four by putting zeroes in the left most side.
After that the groups are converted into decimal numbers individually and written side by side in the same order as they were previously, now we have got the desired equivalent hexadecimal number of the binary number, an example will make it all clear for us.
We take any binary number suppose 100010100101₂
Breaking it into groups of 4 we get
1000|1010|0101
Now converting all the groups into decimal numbers individually we get
8 | 10 | 5
So the desired hexadecimal equivalent of the binary number 100010100101₂ is 8A5₁₆

Hexadecimal to Binary Conversion

Similarly the vice versa operation is also possible, i.e. we can convert any hexadecimal number into its equivalent binary number directly without any intermediate steps. The method is pretty easy, first of all we have to convert every digit of the hexadecimal number into its equivalent binary numbers (making every group a group of four by adding 0s to the left of the number). After all the digits are converted into binary numbers they are merged according to their positions to make the final binary number which is equivalent to the hexadecimal number is obtained. Now we will try to understand the method with the help of an example.
3DC16 is the hexadecimal number which we want to convert into binary. We know D and C are equivalent to 13 and 12 respectively in decimal number system.
Now converting each digit into its binary equivalent number we get
0011|1101|1100
Now merging all these groups binary numbers to make the final binary number we get 1111011100₂ which is the binary equivalence of the hexadecimal number 3DC₁₆

Hexadecimal to Decimal and Decimal to Hexadecimal Conversion

The hexadecimal system is a number system with base 16. This number system is greatly used by modern computer system.

We already know about the decimal number system, binary number system and octal number system. Like those there is another number system called hexadecimal number system. As the name suggests there are 16 symbols in this number system starting from 0. Before explaining the number system we should know why this number system came into existence. The natural tendency of human is to use decimal number system because they are familiar with this as the use of 0 is very easy and the operations are user friendly. And the computer systems used binary systems earlier because there are only two states on and off. But as the dependency on computer grew up and different mathematical programs and different softwares needed to be developed there came the need to develop a number system having base larger than decimal and 16 was chosen because the bits, bytes are multiples of it.
Now days this number system is used in HTML and CSS, hexadecimal notations are used in them. This number system was first used around 1956 in Bendix G-15 computer. Now coming to the representation of hexadecimal number system, in this number system there are 16 basic digits by which all the numbers can be represented, these are 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F the first 10 digits are similar to decimal number system but the last 6 digits represent 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 respectively. Any number in hexadecimal number system can be converted into numbers of other number system very easily, the procedures are given in the next article.

Here in the decimal system, we use symbol 1 and 0 side by side that is 10 to represent • • • • • • • • • • + •
That is nine plus one. After that we will have 11 then 12 and so on. That means after nine or 9 we bring back first non - zero digit of symbol that is 1 at left side and repeat all the symbols from 0 to 9 at its right side to represent next ten higher numbers from ten to nineteen (10 - 19). After 19 we put 2 at left and repeat again 0 to 9 to represent next ten higher numbers from twenty to twenty nine (20 - 29). Decimal number system is very basic number system as ten symbols or digits are used in different combinations to represent all the numbers, this system is said to be of base ten (10). Now think about a number system where you are told to use sixteen symbols instead of 10 symbols. Then what will be your basic construction of the new number system ? For that first we have to find out 16 symbols to represent the basic digits of that new number system. We can create new series of symbols for that, but if we do so it will be very much difficult to remember. That difficulty can be solved if we use commonly used symbols for that purpose. So we can simply use 0 to 9 of decimal system to represents first ten digits 0 to 9 of this new number system. But for other 6 higher digits there are no symbols available in decimal system so we have to search for them from some commonly used system. We can easily get them from our alphabetical system that means we can use A, B, C, D, E and F as next 6 higher digits (from 10 to 15) in this new number system. The system where total 16 basic digits are used is known as hexadecimal number system.

A ⇒

•

B ⇒

•

C ⇒

•

D ⇒

•

E ⇒

•

F ⇒

•

In hexadecimal system we use 16 symbols to represent all numbers. These symbols are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E and F. After F we use 10 for next higher number 16. Then next increment is 11 which used to represent next natural number 17 and so on.
Hence in hexadecimal system just after F, the first digit becomes 1 and second digit will repeat from 0 to F one by one to represent natural numbers 16 to 31. That means, 10 ⇒ 16, 11 ⇒ 17, 12 ⇒ 18, 13 ⇒ 19, 14 ⇒ 20, 15 ⇒ 21, 16 ⇒ 22, 17 ⇒ 23, 18 ⇒ 24, 19 ⇒ 25, 1A ⇒ 26, 1B ⇒ 27, 1C ⇒ 28, 1D ⇒ 29, 1E ⇒ 30, 1F ⇒ 31. After this the first digit will increase to 2 and again second digit will repeat from 0 to F one by one to represent natural numbers 32 to 47 and so on.

Decimal to Hexadecimal Conversion

As we have already stated in the previous articles on number systems that all the number systems are inter related, so as the decimal and hexadecimal numbers. Any number in decimal number system can be converted into hexadecimal number system. The procedure is given below.
If we try to understand the procedure with an example and step by step then it will be easier and better for us.
Let us first take any decimal number suppose we have taken 75₁₀ and now we want to convert it into hexadecimal number, first we have to divide it by 16
75/16 = quotient 4, remainder 11
As the quotient is less than 16, we have to stop here and the equivalent hexadecimal number will be
4B₈ = 75₁₀
Now we will discuss the method for a slightly bigger number,
Suppose the number is 1693₁₀
Now we divide it by 16
1693/16 = quotient = 105, remainder = 13(D)
Now we have to divide the quotient again by 16 and see the result
105/16 = quotient = 6 remainder = 9
As the quotient is less than 16 the calculation part is completed and we can now directly write the result
1693₁₀ = 69D₁₆
So the decimal number has been converted into a hexadecimal number.From above explanation it can be understood that, hexadecimal number is the summation of products of different digit with their respective multipliers. The multipliers are 16⁰, 16¹, 16², ........from right hand side or list significant bit (LSB). Let's have an example 4D2 and this would be expressed as

If we divide decimal 1234 by 16, we will get 77 as quotient and 2 as remainder. Then if we divide decimal 77 by 16, we will get 4 as quotient and 13 or D as remainder. Now if we write side by side from last quotient to first reminder we will get 4D2 which is hexadecimal or hex equivalent of the number 1234.

Hexadecimal to Decimal Conversion

In a similar way any hexadecimal number can be converted into a decimal number. We will look into the process with an example.
But before beginning it should be made clear that before conversion of hexadecimal number all the letters of the number should be taken as their numerical values in decimal number system, i.e. if a digit in hexadecimal number is A then we have to take it as 10, now an example will make the whole procedure clear.
Let us take any hexadecimal number 45B1₁₆, we have to convert it into decimal number, so starting from the right most digit we have to start multiplying the digits with ascending power of 16 starting from 0.
So the taken number will be operated as

In this procedure any hexadecimal number can be converted into decimal number.
The value hexadecimal number is determined by multiplying every digit of the hex number by its respective multiplier. We start from LSB or right most digit and multiply it with 16⁰, then come to the next digit at left of LSB and multiply it with 16¹ and after that we come to the further left digit and multiply 16² with it. We continue this up to MSB or left most bit. The add all this product and finally we get decimal equivalent of hexadecimal number. This one of the easiest process of hexadecimal to decimal conversion.
Think about the hex number 4D2. Here the least significant bit of the number is 2 so we will multiply that with 16⁰ or 1. Then come to the next left digit that is D OR 13 and we will multiply it with 16¹ or 16. Lastly we will multiply the left most digit or MSB i.e. 4 with 16². Now if we add these three terms, finally we will get the dedcimal equivalent of the said hexadecimal number. This is what Hexadecimal to Decimal Conversion Hence,

`00100101 - 00010001 = 00010100`	`0`		borrows
	`0 0 1 ¹0 0 1 0 1`	=	37_{(base 10)}
	`- 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1`	=	17_{(base 10)}
	`0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0`	=	20_{(base 10)}

`00110011 - 00010110 = 00011101`	`0 ¹0 1`		borrows
	`0 0 1 1 0 ¹0 1 1`	=	51_{(base 10)}
	`- 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0`	=	22_{(base 10)}
	`0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1`	=	29_{(base 10)}

HNDIT

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Binary Addition, Subraction,Multiplication,Division

Binary Addition

Example − Addition

Binary Subtraction

Example − Subtraction

Rules of Binary Subtraction

Binary Multiplication

Example − Multiplication

Binary Division

Example − Division