Lecture 02: Number Systems

Instructor: Mehwish Ghafoor

[email protected]
Number Systems
• Computers understand machine language.
• Every letter, symbol etc. that we write in the instructions given to computer, it gets
converted into machine language.
• This machine language comprises of numbers.

• Number systems can be classified into its sub-types based on the base of
that system.
• Base of a number system plays crucial role in understanding the number system and
to convert it from one sub-type to other sub-type.

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 Number Systems

Base is identified based on To find the value of digit in a

the number of digits in particular number system, three
components are required:
that number system.
For a number to exist in a given base, it can - The digit itself.
only contain the digits in that base, which - Position of the digit in a particular number.
range from 0 up to (but not including) the
base. - Base of the number system.

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 Classification of Number Systems

• Base is defined as the total number of digits available in

the number system.
• What bases can these numbers be in? 122, 198, 178
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Decimal system
• The number system that we use in our day-to-day life is the decimal number
system.

• Decimal number system has base 10 as it uses 10 digits from 0 to 9.

• In decimal number system, the successive positions from right to left

represent units, tens, hundreds, thousands and so on.

• Each position represents a specific power of the base (10).

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Decimal System: Positional Notation

642 in base 10 positional notation is:

6 x 102 = 6 x 100 = 600

+ 4 x 101 = 4 x 10 = 40
+ 2 x 100 = 2 x 1 = 2 = 642 in base 10

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Decimal System: Positional Notation

642 in base 10 positional notation is:

6 x 102 = 6 x 100 = 600

+ 4 x 101 = 4 x 10 = 40
+ 2 x 100 = 2 x 1 = 2 = 642 in base 10

The power indicates

This number is in the position of
base 10 the number
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 Decimal System: Positional Notation
• The decimal number 1234 consists of:
o digit 4 in the units position,
o 3 in the tens position,
o 2 in the hundreds position,
o 1 in the thousands position, and its value can be written
as
(1×1000) + (2×100) + (3×10) + (4×l)
=(1×10 ) + (2×10 ) + (3×10 ) + (4×l0 )
3 2 1 0

=1000 + 200 + 30 + 1
= 1234

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Decimal system

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Applications of Decimal Number System
Daily Counting and Arithmetic:
• The decimal system is the most common way of counting and performing
arithmetic operations in our everyday lives.
• It's used for tasks like counting money, keeping track of quantities, and
performing calculations.
Measurement Units:
• Decimal numbers are used to represent measurement units, such as length,
weight, volume, and time.
• These measurements play a crucial role in fields like construction, science,
engineering, and cooking.

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Applications of Decimal Number System
Currency and Finance:
• The decimal system is used to represent currency values, making it possible to
handle transactions, accounting, and financial calculations.
Education and Mathematics:
• The decimal system is fundamental to teaching and learning mathematics,
providing a clear way to explain place value and mathematical operations.
Scientific Notation:
• Decimal numbers are often used in scientific notation, where numbers are
expressed as a product of a decimal value and a power of 10.
• This notation simplifies representation of very large or very small numbers
encountered in fields like astronomy and physics.

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Applications of Decimal Number System
Digital Clocks and Watches:
• Digital time displays use decimal digits to represent hours, minutes, and
seconds.
• This allows for precise timekeeping and ease of reading.
Calendars and Dates:
• The decimal system helps represent dates and time in months, days, and
years.
• It's used to manage schedules, appointments, and events.

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Applications of Decimal Number System
Public Transportation:
• Timetables, schedules, and ticket prices are often represented using
decimal numbers for easy comprehension by the general public.
Commercial Transactions:
• Decimal numbers play a role in pricing, discounts, taxes, and other
financial aspects of buying and selling goods and services.
Medicine and Dosage:
• Decimal numbers are used to prescribe and administer medicine,
calculate dosages, and manage patient records.

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Binary Number System
• Uses two digits, 0 and 1.

• Also called base 2 number system

• First position (from right) in a binary number represents a power of the

base (2). Example: 20

• Last position in a binary number represents an x power of the base (2).

Example: 2x where x represents the last position.

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Converting Binary to Decimal
Example
Binary Number: 101012
Calculating Decimal Equivalent

Step Binary Number Decimal Number

4 3 2 1 0
Step 1 101012 ((1 × 2 ) + (0 × 2 ) + (1 × 2 ) + (0 × 2 ) + (1 × 2 ))10
Step 2 101012 (16 + 0 + 4 + 0 + 1)10
Step 3 101012 2110

Note: (10101)2 can also be written as 10101

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 Converting Binary to Decimal
What is the decimal equivalent of the binary number (1101110)2?

1 x 26 = 1 x 64 = 64
+ 1 x 25 = 1 x 32 = 32
+ 0 x 24 = 0 x 16 =0
+ 1 x 23 = 1x8 =8
+ 1 x 22 = 1x4 =4
+ 1 x 21 = 1x2 =2
+ 0 x 2º = 0x1 =0
= 110 in base 10

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Converting Binary to Decimal
• Can you figure the decimal values for
these binary values?
• 11
• 101
• 110
• 1111
• 11011

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Converting Binary to Decimal

• Here are the answers:

• 11 is 3 in base ten
• 101 is (5)10
• 110 is (6)10
• 1111 is (15)10
• 11011 is (27)10

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Converting Decimal to Binary
• Convert decimal numbers to binary by repeated division by 2 and
noting remainders.
• Example: Convert 27 to binary:
• 27 ÷ 2 = 13 remainder 1, 2 27
• 13 ÷ 2 = 6 remainder 1, 2 13- 1
• 6 ÷ 2 = 3 remainder 0, 2 6 -1
• 3 ÷ 2 = 1 remainder 1. 2 3 -0
• 1 ÷ 2 = 0 remainder 1. 2 1- 1
• So, 27 in binary is 11011. 0 -1

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Example
• Can you figure the binary values for these decimal values?
• 42
• 78
• 135

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 78 135
42
2 39 0 2 67 1
2 21 0
2 19 1 2 33 1
2 10 1
2 9 1 2 16 1
2 5 0
2 4 1 2 8 0
2 2 1
2 2 0 2 4 0
2 1 0
2 1 0 2 2 0
0 1
0 1 2 1 0
0 1

Binary: 101010 Binary: 1001110 Binary: 10000111

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Example: To Do
• Decimal to Binary
• 89
• 31
• Binary to Decimal
• 1011
• 10001
• 1100

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Example
• Decimal to Binary
• 89 -> 1011001
• 31 -> 11111
• Binary to Decimal
• 1011 -> 11
• 10001 -> 17
• 1100 -> 12

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Applications of Binary System
• Binary in Computing:
• Computers use binary as their fundamental language due to the
simple representation of on/off states in electronic circuits.
• All data in computers, including text, images, and sound, are
ultimately represented in binary.
• Binary Arithmetic:
• Addition and subtraction in binary are similar to decimal, but with
carry and borrow rules.
• Multiplication and division are often more complex in binary,
involving shifts and bitwise operations.

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Applications of Binary System
• Real-world Applications:
• Binary-coded information in barcodes, QR codes, and identification
numbers.
• Digital display technologies using segments that can be turned on/off (e.g.,
7-segment displays).
• Communication systems relying on binary signals for data transmission.
• Advantages of Binary:
• Simplicity of representation using only two symbols.
• Well-suited to electronic circuitry, where on/off states are easily
distinguishable.
• Easy conversion between binary and other number systems using powers
of 2.
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Applications of Binary System
• Challenges:
• Longer representation compared to decimal for the
same values.
• Human readability can be challenging for longer
binary numbers.
• Performing manual arithmetic operations can be
more complex.

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Octal Number System
• Uses eight digits, 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7.

• Also called base 8 number system

• First position (from right) in an octal number represents a 0 power of the

base (8). Example: 80

• Last position in an octal number represents an x power of the base (8).

Example: 8x where x represents the last position.

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Octal to Decimal
Example
Octal Number − 125708
Calculating Decimal Equivalent −

Step Octal Number Decimal Number

4 3 2
Step 1 125708 ((1 × 8 ) + (2 × 8 ) + (5 × 8 ) + (7
1 0
× 8 ) + (0 × 8 ))
Step 2 125708 (4096 + 1024 + 320 + 56 +0)
Step 3 125708 (5496)10

Note: (12570)8 can also be written as 12570.

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 Octal to Decimal
• Can you figure the decimal values for these octal values?
• 156
• 270
• 1164
• 2105

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 Octal to Decimal
• Here are the answers:
• 156 is (110)10
• 270 is (184)10
• 1164 is (628)10
• 2105 is (1093)10

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 Bases Higher than 10
How are digits in bases higher than 10 represented?

With distinct symbols for 10 and above.

Base 16 has 16 digits:

0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E, and F

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Hexadecimal Number System
• Uses 10 digits and 6 letters
• Letters represents numbers starting from 10:
• A = 10, B = 11, C = 12, D = 13, E = 14, F = 15.
• Also called base 16 number system.
• First position in a hexadecimal number represents a 0 power of the base
(16). Example 160.
• Last position in a hexadecimal number represents an x power of the base
(16). Example 16x where x represents the last position.

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Hexadecimal to Decimal
Example −
Hexadecimal Number: 19FDE16
Calculating Decimal Equivalent −
.
Step Hexadecimal Number Decimal Number
4 3 2
Step 1 19FDE16 ((1 × 16 ) + (9 × 16 ) + (F × 16 )
1 0
+ (D × 16 ) + (E × 16 ))
4 3 2
Step 2 19FDE16 ((1 × 16 ) + (9 × 16 ) + (15 × 16 )
1 0
+ (13 × 16 ) + (14 × 16 ))
Step 3 19FDE16 (65536 + 36864 + 3840 + 208 +
14)
Step 4 19FDE16 (106462)10

Note − 19FDE16 is normally written as 19FDE

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 Hexadecimal to Decimal
• Can you figure the decimal value for these
hexadecimal values?
• 2A
• 15F
• A7C
• 11BE
• A10D

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 Hexadecimal to Decimal
• Here are the answers:
• 2A is 42 in base 10
• 15F is (351)10
• A7C is (2684)10
• 11BE is (4542)10
• A10D is (41229)10

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