NUMBER SYSTEM

Number System is a method of representing numbers on the number line with the help of a
set of Symbols and rules. These symbols range from 0-9 and are termed as digits. Let’s learn
about the number system in detail, including its types, and conversion.

Types of Number System

Based on the base value and the number of allowed digits, number systems are of many
types.
The four common types of Number System are:
1. Decimal Number System
2. Binary Number System
3. Octal Number System
4. Hexadecimal Number System
Decimal Number System
Number system with base value 10 is termed as Decimal number system. It uses 10 digits i.e.
0-9 for the creation of numbers.
Here, each digit in the number is at a specific place with place value a product of different
powers of 10. The place value is termed from right to left as first place value called units,
second to the left as Tens, so on Hundreds, Thousands, etc. Here, units have the place value
as 100, tens have the place value as 101, hundreds as 102, thousands as 103, and so on.
For example: 10285 has place values as
(1 × 104) + (0 × 103) + (2 × 102) + (8 × 101) + (5 × 100)
1 × 10000 + 0 × 1000 + 2 × 100 + 8 × 10 + 5 × 1
10000 + 0 + 200 + 80 + 5
10285

Binary Number System

Number System with base value 2 is termed as Binary number system. It uses 2 digits i.e. 0
and 1 for the creation of numbers. The numbers formed using these two digits are termed as
Binary Numbers.
Binary number system is very useful in electronic devices and computer systems because it
can be easily performed using just two states ON and OFF i.e. 0 and 1.
Decimal Numbers 0-9 are represented in binary as: 0, 1, 10, 11, 100, 101, 110, 111, 1000, and
1001
Examples:
14 can be written as 1110
19 can be written as 10011
50 can be written as 110010

Octal Number System

Octal Number System is one in which the base value is 8. It uses 8 digits i.e. 0-7 for creation
of Octal Numbers. Octal Numbers can be converted to Decimal value by multiplying each
digit with the place value and then adding the result. Here the place values are 80, 81, and
82. Octal Numbers are useful for the representation of UTF8 Numbers.
Example:
(135)10 can be written as (207)8
(215)10 can be written as (327)8
Hexadecimal Number System
Number System with base value 16 is termed as Hexadecimal Number System. It uses 16
digits for the creation of its numbers. Digits from 0-9 are taken like the digits in the decimal
number system but the digits from 10-15 are represented as A-F i.e. 10 is represented as A, 11
as B, 12 as C, 13 as D, 14 as E, and 15 as F. Hexadecimal Numbers are useful for handling
memory address locations.
Examples:
(255)10 can be written as (FF)16
(1096)10 can be written as (448)16
(4090)10 can be written as (FFA)16
Conversion of Number Systems
Conversion between numbers systems is quite an easy task. These are the types of
conversions that happen from one number system to another:
1. Decimal to Other Number Systems
2. Binary to Other Number Systems
3. Octal to Other Number Systems
4. Hexadecimal to Other Number Systems
Let’s discuss them in detail.

Conversion from Decimal to Other Number Systems

Decimal Numbers are represented with digits 0-9 and with base 10. Conversion of a number
system means conversion from one base to another. Following is the conversion of the
Decimal Number System to other Number Systems:

Decimal to Binary Conversion

Decimal numbers are represented in base 10, but the binary numbers are of base 2. Hence, to
convert a decimal number to binary number, the base of that number is to be changed.
Follow the steps given below:
• Step 1: Divide the Decimal Number with the base of the number system to be
converted to. Here the conversion is to binary, hence the divisor will be 2.
• Step 2: The remainder obtained from the division will become the least significant
digit of the new number.
• Step 3: The quotient obtained from the division will become the next dividend and
will be divided by base i.e. 2.
• Step 4: The remainder obtained will become the second least significant digit i.e. it
will be added in the left of the previously obtained digit.
Now, the steps 3 and 4 are repeated until the quotient obtained becomes 0, and the
remainders obtained after each iteration are added to the left of the existing digits.
After all the iterations are over, the last obtained remainder will be termed as the Most
Significant digit.
Decimal to Octal Conversion
Octal Numbers are represented in base 8. Hence, to convert a decimal number to octal
number, the base of that number is to be changed. Follow the steps given below:
• Step 1: Divide the Decimal Number with the base of the number system to be
converted to. Here the conversion is to octal, hence the divisor will be 8.
• Step 2: The remainder obtained from the division will become the least significant
digit of the new number.
• Step 3: The quotient obtained from the division will become the next dividend and
will be divided by base i.e. 8.
• Step 4: The remainder obtained will become the second least significant digit i.e. it
will be added in the left of the previously obtained digit.
Now, the steps 3 and 4 are repeated until the quotient obtained becomes 0, and the
remainders obtained after each iteration are added to the left of the existing digits.
Decimal to Hexadecimal Conversion
Hexadecimal Numbers are represented in base 16. Hence, to convert a decimal number to
hexadecimal number, the base of that number is to be changed. Follow the steps given
below:
• Step 1: Divide the Decimal Number with the base of the number system to be
converted to. Here the conversion is to Hex hence the divisor will be 16.
• Step 2: The remainder obtained from the division will become the least significant
digit of the new number.
• Step 3: The quotient obtained from the division will become the next dividend and
will be divided by base i.e. 16.
• Step 4: The remainder obtained will become the second least significant digit i.e. it
will be added in the left of the previously obtained digit.
Now, the steps 3 and 4 are repeated until the quotient obtained becomes 0, and the
remainders obtained after each iteration are added to the left of the existing digits.
Conversion from Binary to Other Number Systems
Binary Numbers are represented with digits 0 and 1 and with base 2. Conversion of a number
system means conversion from one base to another. Following is the conversion of the
Binary Number System to other Number Systems:

Binary to Decimal Conversion

Binary numbers are represented in base 2 but the decimal numbers are of base 10. Hence, to
convert the binary number into a decimal number, the base of that number is to be changed.
Follow the steps given below:
• Step 1: Multiply each digit of the Binary number with the place value of that digit,
starting from right to left i.e. from LSB to MSB.
• Step 2: Add the result of this multiplication and the decimal number will be formed.
Example: To convert (11101011)2 into a decimal number

Binary to Octal Conversion

Binary numbers are represented in base 2 but the octal numbers are of base 8. Hence, to
convert the binary number into octal number, the base of that number is to be changed.
Follow the steps given below:
• Step 1: Divide the binary number into groups of three digits starting from right to
left i.e. from LSB to MSB.
• Step 2: Convert these groups into equivalent octal digits.
Example: To convert (11101011)2 into an octal number
Binary to Hexadecimal Conversion
Binary numbers are represented in base 2 but the Hexadecimal numbers are of base 10.
Hence, to convert the binary number into Hex number, the base of that number is to be
changed. Follow the steps given below:
• Step 1: Divide the binary number into groups of four digits starting from right to left
i.e. from LSB to MSB.
• Step 2: Convert these groups into equivalent hex digits.
Example: To convert (1110101101101)2 into a hex number
Conversion from Octal to Other Number Systems
Octal Numbers are represented with digits 0-7 and with base 8. Conversion of a number
system means conversion from one base to another. Following are the conversions of the
Octal Number System to other Number Systems:

Octal to Decimal Conversion:

Octal numbers are represented in base 8, but the decimal numbers are of base 10. Hence, to
convert an octal number to a decimal number, the base of that number is to be changed.
Follow the steps given below:
Step 1: Multiply each digit of the Octal number with the place value of that digit, starting
from right to left i.e. from LSB to MSB.
Step 2: Add the result of this multiplication and the decimal number will be formed.
Let’s see an example.

Octal to Binary Conversion:

Octal numbers are represented in base 8, but the binary numbers are of base 2. Hence, to
convert an octal number to a binary number, the base of that number is to be changed.
Follow the steps given below:
• Step 1: Write each digit of the octal number separately.
• Step 2: Convert each digit into an equivalent group of three binary digits.
• Step 3: Combine these groups to form the whole binary number.
Example: (247)8 is to be converted to binary
Octal to Hexadecimal Conversion:
Octal numbers are represented in base 8, but the hexadecimal numbers are of base 16.
Hence, to convert an octal number to a hex number, the base of that number is to be
changed. Follow the steps given below:
• Step 1: We need to convert the Octal number to Binary first. For that, follow the
steps given in the above conversion.
• Step 2: Now to convert the binary number to Hex number, divide the binary digits
into groups of four digits starting from right to left i.e. from LSB to MSB.
• Step 3: Add zeros prior to MSB to make it a proper group of four digits (if required)
• Step 4: Now convert these groups into their relevant decimal values.
• Step 5: For values from 10-15, convert it into Hex symbols i.e. from A-F
Example: (5456)8 is to be converted to hex
Conversion from Hexadecimal to Other Number Systems
Hex Numbers are represented with digits 0-9 and with letters A-F and with base 16.
Conversion of a number system means conversion from one base to another. Following are
the conversions of the Hexadecimal Number System to other Number Systems:

Hexadecimal to Decimal Conversion:

Hexadecimal numbers are represented in base 16 but the decimal numbers are of base 10.
Hence, to convert a hexadecimal number to a decimal number, the base of that number is to
be changed. Follow the steps given below:
• Step 1: Write the decimal values of the symbols used in the Hex number i.e. from A-
F
• Step 2: Multiply each digit of the Hex number with its place value. starting from
right to left i.e. LSB to MSB.
• Step 3: Add the result of multiplications and the final sum will be the decimal
number.
Example: To convert (8EB4)16 into a decimal value

Hexadecimal to Binary Conversion

Hex numbers are represented in base 16, but the binary numbers are of base 2. Hence, to
convert a hexadecimal number to a binary number, the base of that number is to be changed.
Follow the steps given below:
• Step 1: Convert the Hex symbols into its equivalent decimal values.
• Step 2: Write each digit of the Hexadecimal number separately.
• Step 3: Convert each digit into an equivalent group of four binary digits.
• Step 4: Combine these groups to form the whole binary number.
Example: (B2E)16 is to be converted to binary
Hexadecimal to Octal Conversion:
Hexadecimal numbers are represented in base 16, but the octal numbers are of base 8.
Hence, to convert a hex number to an octal number, the base of that number is to be
changed. Follow the steps given below:
• Step 1: We need to convert the Hexadecimal number to Binary first. For that, follow
the steps given in the above conversion.
• Step 2: Now to convert the binary number to Octal number, divide the binary digits
into groups of three digits starting from right to left i.e. from LSB to MSB.
• Step 3: Add zeros prior to MSB to make it a proper group of three digits (if required)
• Step 4: Now convert these groups into their relevant decimal values.
Example: (B2E)16 is to be converted to octal