BASE SYSTEMS

The numbers that we commonly use are the decimal number. The system is called the decimal
system. Why is it called the decimal system ? It is because it has 10 symbols – 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ,6 , 7 ,
8,9.

For example: 85 means 8 * 10^1 + 5 * 10^0

Here, 10 is known as the base of the decimal system.

In this article, we will learn about other bases, how to express various numbers in such bases and
questions according to CAT, XAT and OMETs.

BASE: It is the number of distinct symbols used in a particular number system.

For example

So, depending on the number of digits in the base system, there are many other systems possible.
Have a look at the following table:

Number
Base Symbol
system

Binary 2 0,1

Septenary 7 0,1,2,3,4,5,6

Octal 8 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Decimal 10 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Duo-
12 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B
decimal

Hexa-
16 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E,F
decimal

n the questions involving base systems, we are expected to figure out the different number of digits
in that system of counting.

For example: If we had 7 digits instead of 10 ie. 0 ,1 ,2 ,3 ,4 ,5 , 6 , we will have system of counting as
follows : 0 , 1, 2 ,3 , 4 5 ,6 , 10 , 11 , 12 ,13 , 14… .

In above system, 45 will be expanded as = 4 * 91 + 5 * 90

Conversions from one Base System to Another

1. Decimal to Binary

a.) (172)10
b.) (28.3125)10

The given number has 2 parts

i. Conversion of integral part

(28)10 = (11100)2

ii.) Conversion of the fractional part:

iii.) Multiply the decimal part with 2 successively and take the integral part of all the products
starting from the first.

iv.) 0.3125*2=0.6250 -> (0)

v.) 0.6250*2=1.2500 -> (1)

0.2500*2=0.500 -> (0)

0.500*2=1 -> (1)

Therefore, (0.3125)10 = (0.0101)2

(28.3125)10 = (11100.0101)2

NOTE: We should stop multiplying the factorial part by 2, once we get 0 as a fraction or the
fractional part is non-terminating. It can be decided depending on the number of digits in the
fractional part required.

2. Binary to Decimal

a. (110101)2

=1*25+ 1*24+ 0*23+ 1*22+ 0*21+ 1*20 = (53)10

b. (0.11001)2

=1*2-1+ 1*2-2+ 0*2-3+ 0*2-4+ 1*2-5 = (0.78125)10

3. Decimal to Octal

a. (4324.235)10

i. Integral part

(4324)10 = (10344)8

ii.) Fractional part

iii.) 0.235*8=1.88 -> (1)

iv.) 0.88*8=7.04 -> (7)

v.) 0.04*8=0.32 -> (0)

We can stop here as the fraction is non-terminating.

(4324.235)10 = (10344.170)8

4. Octal to Decimal

a. (677.47)8

= 6*82+ 7*81+ 7*80+ 4*8-1+ 7*8-2 = (447.609375)10

5. Binary to Octal

8 (octal) is cube of 2 (binary). So, to convert binary to octal we just need to club three digits of binary
number starting from unit digit and write the decimal equivalent of each group.

a. (1101001011)2 = (001 101 001 011)2

(We can introduce two zeroes to form groups of 3 without changing the magnitude of the number)

(001 101 001 011)2 = (1513)8

Arithmetic Operations while operating in a specific Base System

One method of performing arithmetic operations is to first convert the numbers to decimal system,
perform the required operations and then convert the numbers back to required base.

However arithmetic operations can also be directly done given that numbers are expressed in the
same base.

Addition –

Let us start with an easy example to understand the rationale.

1. (8358)10 + (5684)10

Carry over 1 1 1

(quotient (quotient (quotient

when 10 is when 14 is when 12 is
divided by divided by divided by
10) 10) 10)

8 3 5 8

+ 5 6 8 4

(14) (10) (14) (12)

1 4 0 4 2
 (quotient (Remainder (Remainder (Remainder (Remainder
when 14 is when 14 is when 10 is when 14 is when 12 is
divided by divided by divided by divided by divided by
10) 10) 10) 10) 10)

(8358)10 + (5684)10 = (14042)10

LOGIC –

1. Start from unit position; 8+4=12, and 12 when divided by 10 (base) gives us remainder as 2,
which is the total for that column. 12 when divided by 10 gives us quotient as 1 which is
carried over to next column.
2. In second column, 1+5+8=14. When 14 is divided by 10 (base), we get 4 as remainder (total
for that column) and 1 as quotient which is carried over to next column.
3. In third column, 1+3+6=10. 10 when divided by 10 gives us 0 as remainder and 1 as quotient.
We proceed in similar and get the required sum.

2. (3542)6 + (4124)6

Carry over 1 1 1

(quotient (quotient when (quotient

when 7 is 7 is divided by when 6 is
divided by 6) 6) divided by 6)

3 5 4 2

+ 4 1 2 4

(8) (7) (7) (6)

1 2 1 1 0

(quotient (Remainder (Remainder (Remainder (Remainder

when 7 is when 8 is when 7 is when 7 is when 6 is
divided by 6) divided by 6) divided by 6) divided by 6) divided by 6)

(3542)6 + (4124)6 = (12110)6

SUBTRACTION –

1. (237)10 – (199)10
 -1 -1+10 +10

(borrowed to (1 borrowed to (borrow from

tens place) unit place and tens place)
10 borrowed
from hundreds
place)

2 3 7

– 1 9 9

(2-1 – 1=0) (3-1+10 – 9=3) (7+10 – 9= 8)

0 3 8

(237)10 – (199)10 = (38)10

Logic –

1. In units place 7<9, hence we borrow 10 (base) from tens place. 17-9=8
2. Tens place reduces from 3 to 2. Still 2<9, hence we borrow 10 (base) from hundreds place.
12-9=3
3. Hundreds place reduces to 1 (as we borrowed from it in earlier step). 1-1=0

2. (422)5 – (243)5

-1 -1+5 +5

(borrowed to (1 borrowed to (borrow from

tens place) units place and tens place)
5 borrowed
from hundreds
place)

4 2 2

– 2 4 3

(4-1 – 2=1) (2-1+5 – 4=2) (2+5 – 3= 4)

1 2 4
(422)5 – (243)5 = (124)5

MULTIPLICATION –

Using the analogy of base 10, we can multiply in other bases too

1. (346)7 * (4)7

Carry over 2 3

(quotient (quotient when

when 19 is 24 is divided by
divided by 7) 7)

3 4 6

+ 4

(14) (19) (24)

2 0 5 3

(quotient (Remainder (Remainder (Remainder

when 14 is when 14 is when 19 is when 24 is
divided by 7) divided by 7) divided by 7) divided by 7)

(346)7 * (4)7 = (2053)7

2. (76)8 * (45)8

7 6

* 4 5

4 6 6 Row obtained by
(76)8*(5)8

+ 3 7 0 x Row obtained by
(76)8*(4)8

4 3 6 6 Adding (466)8 and

(3700)8

76)8 * (45)8 = (4366)8

DIVISIBILITY –

1) Is (7364)9 divisible by 8?

Solution- The logic behind this question is same as checking the divisibility of any number (in decimal
system) by 9. We add the digits and then check the divisibility.

7+3+6+4=20 which is not divisible by 8. Hence, the given number is not divisible by 8

RULE- (x)b is divisible by (b-1) if all the digits of (x)b add up to be divisible by (b-1).

2) Is (5236)9 divisible by 10?

Solution- The logic behind this question is same as checking the divisibility of any number (in decimal
system) by 11. We first find the sum of alternate digits and then find the difference of the sums
obtained. This difference should either be divisible by 0 or divisible by 11(or 10 in the case of this
question).

5+3=8; 2+6=8

8-8= 0. Hence, the number is divisible by 10

RULE- (x)b is divisible by (b+1) if the difference of the sums of alternate digits of (x) b is either 0 or
divisible by (b+1).

3) What is the IGP (Index of Greatest Power) of 9 in (780)9 ?

Solution– (780)9 = 7*92+ 8*91+ 0*90 = 9(7*9+ 8)

Thus IGP= 1. As the highest power of 9 with which the number is divisible is 1

RULE- For a number in base b, if there are k zeroes in the end then it is divisible by b k. Also, k is the
IGP of b in the number.

Important Concepts of Base System

1) Find the fifth root of (15AA51)19

Solution- (15AA51)19 = 1*195+ 5*194+ 10*193+ 10*192+ 5*191+ 1*190

= (19+1)5 = 205 (Using binomial theorem)

Therefore, the fifth root is 20

Other examples of similar kind-

(121)n = n2+ 2n+ 1= (n+1)2 (n>2)

(1331)n = n3+ 3n2+ 3n+ 1= (n+1)3 (n>3)

(14641)n, (15AA51)n and so on (the digits of the numbers used in the above examples form Pascal’s
triangle)…

2) How many 4-digit numbers in base 9 are perfect squares?

Solution- First we need to know the range of 4-digit numbers in base 9

Least 4 digit number possible= (1000)9 = 93 =729

OBSERVATION- Lowest n digit number in base k= k(n-1)

Highest 4 digit number possible= (8888)9 = 94-1= 6560

OBSERVATION- Highest n digit number in base k= kn-1

From 729 to 6560, the squares vary from 272 to 802 .

Number of perfect squares present= 80-26=54.

EXAMPLES:

1) Let a, b, c be distinct digits. Consider a two-digit number ‘ab’ and a three-digit number ‘ccb’,
both defined under the usual decimal number system, if (ab)2 = ccb > 300, then the value of b is?
(CAT 1999)

Solution– b=1

(ab)2 = ccb, the greatest possible value of ‘ab’ can be 31, since 312 = 961 (and since ccb > 300), 300 <
ccb < 961, so 18 < ab < 31.

So the possible value of ab which statisfies (ab)2 = ccb is 21. So 212 = 441, ∴ a = 2, b = 1, c

3) In a number system the product of 44 and 11 is 1034. The number 3111 of this system, when
converted to the decimal number system, becomes? (XAT 2001)

Solution Let the base be n

(4n+4)(n+1)= n3+3n+4

=> n3-4n2-5n=0

=> n(n-5)(n+1)=0

n=5

(3111)5 = (406)10