As we know, the number system is a form of expressing the numbers.

In number system
conversion, we will study to convert a number of one base, to a number of another base. There
are a variety of number systems such as binary numbers, decimal numbers, hexadecimal
numbers, octal numbers, which can be exercised.

In this article, you will learn the conversion of one base number to another base number
considering all the base numbers such as decimal, binary, octal and hexadecimal with the help of
examples. Here, the following number system conversion methods are explained.

 Binary to Decimal Number System

 Decimal to Binary Number System
 Octal to Binary Number System
 Binary to Octal Number System
 Binary to Hexadecimal Number System
 Hexadecimal to Binary Number System

Get the pdf of number system with a brief description in it. The general representation of number
systems are;

Decimal Number – Base 10 – N10

Binary Number – Base 2 – N2

Octal Number – Base 8 – N8

Hexadecimal Number – Base 16 – N16

Number System Conversion Table

Binary Numbers Octal Numbers Decimal Numbers Hexadecimal Numbers

0000 0 0 0

0001 1 1 1

0010 2 2 2

0011 3 3 3

0100 4 4 4

0101 5 5 5

0110 6 6 6

0111 7 7 7

1000 10 8 8

1001 11 9 9
 1010 12 10 A

1011 13 11 B

1100 14 12 C

1101 15 13 D

1110 16 14 E

1111 17 15 F

Number System Conversion Methods

Number system conversions deal with the operations to change the base of the numbers. For
example, to change a decimal number with base 10 to binary number with base 2. We can also
perform the arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication on the number
system. Here, we will learn the methods to convert the number of one base to the number of
another base starting with the decimal number system. The representation of number system base
conversion in general form for any base number is;

(Number)b = dn-1 dn-2—–.d1 d0 . d-1 d-2 —- d-m

In the above expression, dn-1 dn-2—–.d1 d0 represents the value of integer part and d-1 d-2 —- d-
m represents the fractional part.

Also, dn-1 is the Most significant bit (MSB) and d-m is the Least significant bit (LSB).

Now let us learn, conversion from one base to another.

Related Topics

Binary Number System Hexadecimal Number System

Octal Number System Number System For Class 9

Decimal to Other Bases

Converting a decimal number to other base numbers is easy. We have to divide the decimal
number by the converted value of the new base.

Decimal to Binary Number:

Suppose if we have to convert decimal to binary, then divide the decimal number by 2.

Example 1. Convert (25)10 to binary number.

Solution: Let us create a table based on this question.

 Operation Output Remainder

25 ÷ 2 12 1(MSB)

12 ÷ 2` 6 0

6÷2 3 0

3÷2 1 1

1÷2 0 1(LSB)

Therefore, from the above table, we can write,

(25)10 = (11001)2

Decimal to Octal Number:

To convert decimal to octal number we have to divide the given original number by 8 such that
base 10 changes to base 8. Let us understand with the help of an example.

Example 2: Convert 12810 to octal number.

Solution: Let us represent the conversion in tabular form.

Operation Output Remainder

128÷8 16 0(MSB)

16÷8 2 0

2÷8 0 2(LSB)

Therefore, the equivalent octal number = 2008

Decimal to Hexadecimal:

Again in decimal to hex conversion, we have to divide the given decimal number by 16.

Example 3: Convert 12810 to hex.

Solution: As per the method, we can create a table;

Operation Output Remainder

 128÷16 8 0(MSB)

8÷16 0 8(LSB)

Therefore, the equivalent hexadecimal number is 8016

Here MSB stands for a Most significant bit and LSB stands for a least significant bit.

Other Base System to Decimal Conversion

Binary to Decimal:

In this conversion, binary number to a decimal number, we use multiplication method, in such a
way that, if a number with base n has to be converted into a number with base 10, then each digit
of the given number is multiplied from MSB to LSB with reducing the power of the base. Let us
understand this conversion with the help of an example.

Example 1. Convert (1101)2 into a decimal number.

Solution: Given a binary number (1101)2.

Now, multiplying each digit from MSB to LSB with reducing the power of the base number 2.

1 × 23 + 1 × 22 + 0 × 21 + 1 × 20

=8+4+0+1

= 13

Therefore, (1101)2 = (13)10

Octal to Decimal:

To convert octal to decimal, we multiply the digits of octal number with decreasing power of the
base number 8, starting from MSB to LSB and then add them all together.

Example 2: Convert 228 to decimal number.

Solution: Given, 228

2 x 81 + 2 x 80

= 16 + 2

= 18

Therefore, 228 = 1810

Hexadecimal to Decimal:

Example 3: Convert 12116 to decimal number.

Solution: 1 x 162 + 2 x 161 + 1 x 160

= 16 x 16 + 2 x 16 + 1 x 1

= 289

Therefore, 12116 = 28910

Hexadecimal to Binary Shortcut Method

To convert hexadecimal numbers to binary and vice versa is easy, you just have to memorize the
table given below.

Hexadecimal Number Binary

0 0000

1 0001

2 0010

3 0011

4 0100

5 0101

6 0110

7 0111

8 1000

9 1001

A 1010

B 1011

C 1100

D 1101

E 1110

F 1111
You can easily solve the problems based on hexadecimal and binary conversions with the help of
this table. Let us take an example.

Example: Convert (89)16 into a binary number.

Solution: From the table, we can get the binary value of 8 and 9, hexadecimal base numbers.

8 = 1000 and 9 = 1001

Therefore, (89)16 = (10001001)2

Octal to Binary Shortcut Method

To convert octal to binary number, we can simply use the table. Just like having a table for
hexadecimal and its equivalent binary, in the same way, we have a table for octal and its
equivalent binary number.

Octal Number Binary

0 000

1 001

2 010

3 011

4 100

5 101

6 110

7 111

Example: Convert (214)8 into a binary number.

Solution: From the table, we know,

2 → 010

1 → 001

4 → 100

Therefore,(214)8 = (010001100)2

Practice Problems on Number System Conversion

1. Convert 14610 into a binary number system
 2. Convert 1A716 into the decimal number system
3. Convert (110010)2 into octal number system
4. Convert DA216 into the binary number system
5. Convert 46528 into the binary number system

Frequently Asked Question on the Number System

Conversion
Q1

Why do we need the number system conversion?

One of the most important applications of the number system is in computer technology.
Generally, a computer uses the binary number system, but humans will use the hexadecimal
number system, as it is easier to understand. For this reason, the number system conversion is
required.
Q2

What is meant by the base 2 number system?

The base 2 number system is called the binary number system. It uses only two digits, such as 0,
1. For example, the number 6 is represented by 0110 (or) 110.
Q3

Write down the conversion procedure from decimal to binary number

system?
The steps to convert the decimal number system to binary number system are:
Divide the given number by 2
Now, use the obtained quotient for the next iteration
Obtain the remainder for the binary number
Repeat the steps until the quotient is equal to 0
Q4

What is meant by the base 8 number system?

The base 8 number system is called the octal number system. It uses the digits such as 0, 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7.
Q5

What is meant by the hexadecimal number system?

The hexadecimal number system is called the base 16 number system. It uses the digits from 0 to
9, and A, B, C, D, E, F