DIGITAL ELECTRONICS

MODULE 6
NUMBERS SYSTEM &
CONVERSION
TOPIC 1 & 2
LEARNING
OUTCOME:
 EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING NUMBER SYSTEMS:
a) BINARY
b) OCTAL
c) DECIMAL
d) HEXADECIMAL

 CONVERT A PARTICULAR NUMBER SYSTEM TO ANOTHER

Introduction

The Number System, also known as the Numeral System, is the system of
naming or representing numbers. Most of us who have not heard the term
binary or octal or hexadecimal are likely only familiar with the decimal system in
which we represent numbers using digits 0 to 9. But the representation of a
given number changes as we change the base.

In a computer when we type some letters or words, the computer translates

them in numbers as computers can understand only numbers. A computer can
understand the positional number system where there are only a few symbols
called digits and these symbols represent different values depending on the
position they occupy in the number.
The value of each digit in a number can be determined using:
 The digit
 The position of the digit in the number
 The base of the number system (where the base is defined as the total
number of digits available in the number system)

Types of Number Systems

There are various types of number systems in mathematics. The four most
common number system types are:

Number system Description

1. Decimal Base 10. Digits used: 0 ~ 9
2. Binary Base 2. Digits used 0, 1
3. Octal Base 8. Digits used: 0 ~ 7
Base 16. Digits used: 0~9, Letters used:
4. Hexadecimal
A~F
1. Decimal Number system (Base 10 Number 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 to the left of the decimal point
represent units, tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on.

Example of Decimal Number System:

The decimal number 1457 consists of the digit 7 in the units position,
5 in the tens place, 4 in the hundreds position, and 1 in the thousands
place whose value can be written as:

(1×103) + (4×102) + (5×101) + (7×100)

(1×1000) + (4×100) + (5×10) + (7×1)
1000 + 400 + 50 + 7
1457
2. 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.

Characteristics of the binary number system are as follows:

 Uses two digits, 0 and 1
 Also called as base 2 number system
 Each position in a binary number represents a 0 power of the base (2).

Example 2 0

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

Example 2x where x represents the last position - 1.

Position of x start at the right most position of the binary number.

Decimal equivalent
Decimal equivalent 1 0 1 0 0 1

(25 = 32) X5 X0 (20 = 1)

(24 = 16) X4 X1 (21 = 2)

(23 = 8) X3 X2 (22 = 4)
Example 1:

Given a binary number of 110102. Convert the number into a decimal

Steps Binary Number Decimal Number

Multiply each of the number by the

power of the base (2).
Step 1 110102
((1 x 24) + (1 x 23) + (0 x 22) + (1 x 21) +
(0 x 20))10

Simplify the number.

Step 2
(16 + 8 + 0 + 1 + 0)10

Step 3 2510

Note: 101012 is normally written as 10101

Example 2:
Write (14)10 as a binary number.

Solution:
2⁵ = 32 2º = 1
2⁶ = 64 2¹ = 2
8 + 4 + 2 + 0 = 1110 2⁷ = 128 2² = 4
2⁸ = 256 2³ = 8
2⁹ = 512 2⁴ = 16
(14)10 = 11102
3. Octal Number system (Base 8 Number System)
In the octal number system, the base is 8 and it uses numbers from 0 to 7 to represent
numbers. Octal numbers are commonly used in computer applications. Converting an octal
number to decimal is the same as decimal conversion and is explained below using an example.

Characteristics of the octal number system are as follows:

 Uses eight digits, 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7

 Also called as base 8 number system
 Each position in an octal number represents a 0 power of the base (8).
Example 80
 Last position in an octal number represents a x power of the base (8).
Example 8x where x represents the last
position.
Position of x start at the right most position of the binary number.

Decimal equivalent 6 0 3 0 Decimal equivalent

(83 = 512) X3 X0 (80 = 1)

(82 = 64) X2 X1 (81 = 8)

Example 3:

Octal Number: 125708

Calculating Decimal Equivalent:

Step Octal Number Decimal Number

Multiply each of the number by the power of the

125708 base (8).
Step 1
((1 x 84) + (2 x 83) + (5 x 82) + (7 x 81) + (0 x 80))10

Simplify the number.

Step 2 125708
(4096 + 1024 + 320 + 56 + 0)10

Step 3 125708 549610

Note: 125708 is normally written as 12570

Example 4:
Convert 2158 into decimal.

Solution:

2158 = 2 × 82 + 1 × 81 + 5 × 80

= 2 × 64 + 1 × 8 + 5 × 1

= 128 + 8 + 5

= 14110
4. Hexadecimal Number System (Base 16 Number System)

In the hexadecimal system, numbers are written or represented with base 16. In the
hexadecimal system, the numbers are first represented just like in the decimal system, i.e. from
0 to 9. Then, the numbers are represented using the alphabet from A to F. The below-given table
shows the representation of numbers in the hexadecimal number system.

Characteristics of hexadecimal number system are as follows:

 Uses 10 digits and 6 letters, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F

 Letters represent the numbers starting from 10. A = 10. B = 11, C = 12, D = 13, E = 14, F = 15
 Also called as base 16 number system
 Each position in a hexadecimal number represents a 0 power of the base (16). Example, 160
Last position in a hexadecimal number represents a x power of the base (16).
Example 16x where x represents the last position

Position of x start at the right most position of the binary number.

Decimal equivalent A 2 B 9 Decimal equivalent

(163 = 4096) X3 X0 (160 = 1)

(162 = 256) X2 X1 (161 = 16)

Example 5:

Hexadecimal Number: 19FDE16

Calculating Decimal Equivalent:

Step Hexadecim Decimal Number

al Number
Step 1 19FDE16 Multiply each of the number by the power of the base
(16).

((1 x 164) + (9 x 163) + (F x 162) + (D x 161) + (E x

160))10

Simplify the number.

Step 2 19FDE16 ((1 x 164) + (9 x 163) + (15 x 162) + (13 x 161) + (14 x
160))10

Step 3 19FDE16 (65536+ 36864 + 3840 + 208 + 14)10

Note
Step− 4
19FDE16 is normally written as 19FDE.
19FDE 106462
5. Binary Coded Decimal
In the coding, when numbers, letters or words are represented by a specific group of
symbols, it is said that the number, letter, or word is being encoded. The group of symbols is
called as a code. The digital data is represented, stored, and transmitted as group of binary
bits. This group is also called as binary code. The binary code is represented by the number
as well as alphanumeric letter.

In computing and electronic systems, binary-coded decimal (BCD) is a class of binary

encodings of decimal numbers where each digit is represented by a fixed number of bits,
usually four or eight. Sometimes, special bit patterns are used for a sign or other indications
(e.g. error or overflow).
 Example:

Binary Coded Decimal

Decoder IC
 Number System Conversion:

Numbers can be represented in any of the number system categories like

binary, decimal, hexadecimal, etc. Also, any number which is represented in
any of the number system types can be easily converted to another. Check
the detailed lesson on the conversions of number systems to learn how to
convert numbers in decimal to binary and vice versa, hexadecimal to binary
and vice versa, and octal to binary and vice versa using various examples.

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.
 Solve the Number System Examples:

Example 1: Convert (1056)16 to an octal

number.

Example 2: Convert (1001001100)2 to a decimal

number.

Example 3: Convert 101012 into an octal

number.

Example 4: Convert hexadecimal 2C to decimal

number.
End
Reference(s):

1. W. Bolton (2006), Programmable Logic Controllers,

Elsevier Newnes, ISBN-13: 978-0-5706-8112-4 / ISBN-10: 0-7506-8112-8

2. The Startup (2021), The Number System

https://medium.com/swlh/the-number-system-80e64e7bcb21

3. Tutorialspoint (2021), Computer Number System

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/computer_fundamentals/computer_number_syste
m.htm

4. Tutorialspoint (2021), Binary codes

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/computer_logical_organization/binary_codes.htm