NUMBER SYSTEM

n u m b e r s y s t e m
 Computer Numeral System (Number System in Computers)
When we type any letter or word, the computer translates them into
numbers since computers can understand only numbers. A computer
can understand only a few symbols called digits and these symbols
describe different values depending on the position they hold in the
number. In general, the binary number system is used in computers.
However, the octal, decimal and hexadecimal systems are also used
sometimes.
 What is Number System and its Types?
The number system is simply a system to represent or express
numbers. There are various types of number systems and the most
commonly used ones are decimal number system, binary number
system, octal number system, and hexadecimal number system.
Why is the Number System Important?
The number system helps to represent numbers in a small symbol set.
Computers, in general, use binary numbers 0 and 1 to keep the
calculations simple and to keep the amount of necessary circuitry
less, which results in the least amount of space, energy consumption
and cost.

n
 What is Base 1 Number System Called?
The base 1 number system is called the unary numeral system and is
the simplest numeral system to represent natural numbers.

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LeTs StARt
NUMBER Decimal
SYSTEM Number
System Binary
What is a
Number?
Number
System
WHAT IS
NUMBER Octal
SYSTEM IN Number
MATH?
System

Hexadecimal
Number
System
What is a Number in System in Math?
A number system is defined as a system of writing to express numbers. It is the
mathematical notation for representing numbers of a given set by using digits or
other symbols in a consistent manner. It provides a unique representation of
every number and represents the arithmetic and algebraic structure of the
figures. It also allows us to operate arithmetic operations like addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division.

The value of any digit in a number can be determined by:

*The digit
*Its position in the number
*The base of the number system
What is a Number?
A number is a mathematical value used for counting or measuring or labelling
objects. Numbers are used to performing arithmetic calculations. Examples of
numbers are natural numbers, whole numbers, rational and irrational numbers,
etc. 0 is also a number that represents a null value.
A number has many other variations such as even and odd numbers, prime and
composite numbers. Even and odd terms are used when a number is divisible by
2 or not, whereas prime and composite differentiate between the numbers that
have only two factors and more than two factors, respectively.
In a number system, these numbers are used as digits. 0 and 1 are the most
common digits in the number system, that are used to represent binary numbers.
On the other hand, 0 to 9 digits are also used for other number systems. Let us
learn here the types of number systems.
Types of Number Systems
There are various types of number systems in mathematics. The four
most common number system types are:

Decimal number system (Base- 10)

Binary number system (Base- 2)
Octal number system (Base-8)
Hexadecimal number system (Base- 16)
 Decimal
Binary Number
Number
System (Base 2
System (Base
Number
10 Number System)
System)

Hexadecimal
Octal Number
Number
System (Base 8
Number
System (Base
System) 16 Number
System)
 Decimal Number System (Base 10 Number
System)

The decimal number system has a

base of 10 because it uses ten Example of Decimal Number System:
digits from 0 to 9. In the decimal
number system, the positions The decimal number 1457 consists of the digit 7 in the units
successive to the left of the position, 5 in the tens place, 4 in the hundreds position, and 1
decimal point represent units, in the thousands place whose value can be written as:
tens, hundreds, thousands and so
on. This system is expressed in (1×103) + (4×102) + (5×101) + (7×100)
decimal numbers. Every position
shows a particular power of the (1×1000) + (4×100) + (5×10) + (7×1)
base (10).
1000 + 400 + 50 + 7

1457
Binary Number System (Base 2 Number System)
The base 2 number system is also known as the Binary number system wherein, only
two binary digits exist, i.e., 0 and 1. Specifically, the usual base-2 is a radix of 2. The
figures described under this system are known as binary numbers which are the
combination of 0 and 1. For example, 110101 is a binary number .

We can convert any system into binary and vice versa.

Example

Write (14)10 as a binary number. Solution:

Base 2 Number System Example

Base 2 Number System Example

∴ (14)10 = 11102
Binary Number
Decimal Number
System (Base 2 System (Base 10
Number Number System)
System)

Hexadecimal
Octal Number Number
System (Base 8 System (Base
Number
16 Number
System)
System)
 Octal Number
System (Base 8
Number
System)

Example: Convert 2158 into decimal.

In the octal number system, the base
is 8 and it uses numbers from 0 to 7 Solution:
to represent numbers. Octal numbers
are commonly used in computer 2158 = 2 × 82 + 1 × 81 + 5 × 80
applications. Converting an octal
number to decimal is the same as = 2 × 64 + 1 × 8 + 5 × 1
decimal conversion and is explained
below using an example. = 128 + 8 + 5

= 14110
 Binary Number Octal Number
System (Base 2 System (Base 8
Number Number
System) System)

Hexadecimal
Decimal Number
Number
System (Base 10 System (Base
Number System) 16 Number
System)
 Hexadecimal Number System (Base 16 Number System)

In the hexadecimal system, numbers are written or represen

In the hexadecimal system, the numbers are first represente
decimal system, i.e. from 0 to 9. Then, the numbers are repr

alphabet from A to F. The below-given table shows the repre

in the hexadecimal

Hexadecimal 0 1 2 3 4 5
C D E F
Decimal 0 1 2 3 4
11 12 13 14 15
 Hexadecimal Number System (Base 16
Number System)

Number System Conversion

Number System Chart In Numbers can be represented in any of the number system categories like binary,
the number system chart, decimal, hexadecimal, etc. Also, any number which is represented in any of the
the base values and the number system types can be easily converted to another. Check the detailed lesson
digits of different number on the conversions of number systems to learn how to convert numbers in decimal to
systems can be found. binary and vice versa, hexadecimal to binary and vice versa, and octal to binary and
Below is the chart of the vice versa using various examples.
numeral system.
With the help of the different conversion procedures explained above, now let us
discuss in brief about the conversion of one number system to the other number
system by taking a random number.
 Number System Solved Examples
Example 1:
Assume the number 349. Thus, the Convert (1056)16 to an octal number.
number 349 in different number systems is
as follows: Solution:
Given, 105616 is a hex number.
The number 349 in the binary number
system is 101011101 First we need to convert the given hexadecimal number
into decimal number
The number 349 in the decimal number
system is 349. (1056)16

The number 349 in the octal number = 1 × 163 + 0 × 162 + 5 × 161 + 6 × 160
system is 535.
= 4096 + 0 + 80 + 6
The number 349 in the hexadecimal
number system is 15D = (4182)10
 Now we will convert this
Number System Solved Examples decimal number to the
Example 1: required octal number by
Convert (1056)16 to an octal number. repetitively dividing by 8.

Solution: 8 4182
Given, 105616 is a hex number. Remainder
8 522 6
First we need to convert the given 8 65 2
hexadecimal number into decimal 8 8 1
number 8 1 0
0 1
(4182)10 = (10126)8
(1056)16
Therefore, taking the value of
Therefore,
= 1 × 163 + 0 × 162 + 5 × 161 + 6 × 160 the remainder from bottom
to top, we get;
(1056)16 = (10126)8
= 4096 + 0 + 80 + 6

= (4182)10
Example 2:

Convert (1001001100)2 to a decimal number.

Solution:

(1001001100)2

= 1 × 29 + 0 × 28 + 0 × 27 + 1 × 26 + 0 × 25 + 0 × 24 + 1 × 23 + 1 × 22 + 0 × 21
+ 0 × 20

= 512 + 64 + 8 + 4

= (588)10
Example 3:

Convert 101012 into an octal number.

Solution:

Given,

101012 is the binary number

We can write the given binary number as,

010 101

Now as we know, in the octal number system,

010 → 2

101 → 5

Therefore, the required octal number is (25)8

Example 4:
Convert hexadecimal 2C to decimal number.

Solution:
We need to convert 2C16 into binary numbers first.

2C → 00101100

Now convert 001011002 into a decimal number.

101100 = 1 × 25 + 0 × 24 + 1 × 23 + 1 × 22 + 0 × 21 + 0 × 20

= 32 + 8 + 4

= 44
Number System Questions
Convert (242)10 into hexadecimal. [Answer: (F2)16]
Convert 0.52 into an octal number. [Answer: 4121]
Subtract 11012 and 10102. [Answer: 0010]
Represent 5C6 in decimal. [Answer: 1478]
Represent binary number 1.1 in decimal. [Answer: 1.5]
Also Check: Binary Operations