Number System

The technique to represent and work with numbers is called number

system. Decimal number system is the most common number system.
Other popular number systems include binary number system, octal
number system, hexadecimal number system, etc.

Decimal Number System

Decimal number system is a base 10 number system having 10 digits from
0 to 9. This means that any numerical quantity can be represented using
these 10 digits. Decimal number system is also a positional value system.
This means that the value of digits will depend on its position. Let us take an
example to understand this.
Say we have three numbers – 734, 971 and 207. The value of 7 in all three
numbers is different−

• In 734, value of 7 is 7 hundreds or 700 or 7 × 100 or 7 × 102

• In 971, value of 7 is 7 tens or 70 or 7 × 10 or 7 × 101
• In 207, value 0f 7 is 7 units or 7 or 7 × 1 or 7 × 100
The weightage of each position can be represented as follows −

In digital systems, instructions are given through electric signals; variation is

done by varying the voltage of the signal. Having 10 different voltages to
implement decimal number system in digital equipment is difficult. So, many
number systems that are easier to implement digitally have been developed.
Let’s look at them in detail.

Binary Number System

The easiest way to vary instructions through electric signals is two-state
system – on and off. On is represented as 1 and off as 0, though 0 is not
actually no signal but signal at a lower voltage. The number system having
just these two digits – 0 and 1 – is called binary number system.
Each binary digit is also called a bit. Binary number system is also positional
value system, where each digit has a value expressed in powers of 2, as
displayed here.

In any binary number, the rightmost digit is called least significant bit
(LSB) and leftmost digit is called most significant bit (MSB).

And decimal equivalent of this number is sum of product of each digit with its
positional value.
110102 = 1×24 + 1×23 + 0×22 + 1×21 + 0×20
= 16 + 8 + 0 + 2 + 0
= 2610

Octal Number System

Octal number system has eight digits – 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Octal
number system is also a positional value system with where each digit has
its value expressed in powers of 8, as shown here −

Decimal equivalent of any octal number is sum of product of each digit with
its positional value.
7268 = 7×82 + 2×81 + 6×80
= 448 + 16 + 6
= 47010

Hexadecimal Number System

Octal number system has 16 symbols – 0 to 9 and A to F where A is equal
to 10, B is equal to 11 and so on till F. Hexadecimal number system is also a
positional value system with where each digit has its value expressed in
powers of 16, as shown here −

Decimal equivalent of any hexadecimal number is sum of product of each

digit with its positional value.
27FB16 = 2×163 + 7×162 + 15×161 + 10×160
= 8192 + 1792 + 240 +10
= 1023410

Number System Relationship

The following table depicts the relationship between decimal, binary, octal
and hexadecimal number systems.

HEXADECIMAL DECIMAL OCTAL BINARY

0 0 0 0000

1 1 1 0001

2 2 2 0010

3 3 3 0011

4 4 4 0100

5 5 5 0101

6 6 6 0110
 7 7 7 0111

8 8 10 1000

9 9 11 1001

A 10 12 1010

B 11 13 1011

C 12 14 1100

D 13 15 1101

E 14 16 1110

F 15 17 1111

Number System Conversion

As you know decimal, binary, octal and hexadecimal number systems are
positional value number systems. To convert binary, octal and hexadecimal
to decimal number, we just need to add the product of each digit with its
positional value. Here we are going to learn other conversion among these
number systems.

Decimal to Binary
Decimal numbers can be converted to binary by repeated division of the
number by 2 while recording the remainder. Let’s take an example to see
how this happens.
The remainders are to be read from bottom to top to obtain the binary
equivalent.
4310 = 1010112

Decimal to Octal
Decimal numbers can be converted to octal by repeated division of the
number by 8 while recording the remainder. Let’s take an example to see
how this happens.

Reading the remainders from bottom to top,

47310 = 7318

Decimal to Hexadecimal
Decimal numbers can be converted to octal by repeated division of the
number by 16 while recording the remainder. Let’s take an example to see
how this happens.
Reading the remainders from bottom to top we get,
42310 = 1A716

Binary to Octal and Vice Versa

To convert a binary number to octal number, these steps are followed −
• Starting from the least significant bit, make groups of three bits.
• If there are one or two bits less in making the groups, 0s can be added
after the most significant bit
• Convert each group into its equivalent octal number
Let’s take an example to understand this.

101100101012 = 26258
To convert an octal number to binary, each octal digit is converted to its 3-
bit binary equivalent according to this table.

Octal Digit 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Binary Equivalent 000 001 010 011 100 101 110 111

546738 = 1011001101110112

Binary to Hexadecimal
To convert a binary number to hexadecimal number, these steps are followed
−
• Starting from the least significant bit, make groups of four bits.
• If there are one or two bits less in making the groups, 0s can be added
after the most significant bit.
• Convert each group into its equivalent octal number.
Let’s take an example to understand this.

101101101012 = DB516
To convert an octal number to binary, each octal digit is converted to its 3-
bit binary equivalent.

Binary Addition
It is a key for binary subtraction, multiplication, division. There are four rules
of binary addition.
In fourth case, a binary addition is creating a sum of (1 + 1 = 10) i.e. 0 is
written in the given column and a carry of 1 over to the next column.
Example − Addition

Binary Subtraction
Subtraction and Borrow, these two words will be used very frequently for
the binary subtraction. There are four rules of binary subtraction.

Example − Subtraction

Octal Addition
Following octal addition table will help you to handle octal addition.

To use this table, simply follow the directions used in this example: Add
68 and 58. Locate 6 in the A column then locate the 5 in the B column. The
point in 'sum' area where these two columns intersect is the 'sum' of two
numbers.
68 + 58 = 138.
Example − Addition

Octal Subtraction
The subtraction of octal numbers follows the same rules as the subtraction of
numbers in any other number system. The only variation is in borrowed
number. In the decimal system, you borrow a group of 1010. In the binary
system, you borrow a group of 210. In the octal system you borrow a group
of 810.
Example − Subtraction

Hexadecimal Addition
Following hexadecimal addition table will help you greatly to handle
Hexadecimal addition.

To use this table, simply follow the directions used in this example − Add
A16 and 516. Locate A in the X column then locate the 5 in the Y column. The
point in 'sum' area where these two columns intersect is the sum of two
numbers.
A16 + 516 = F16.
Example − Addition

Hexadecimal Subtraction
The subtraction of hexadecimal numbers follow the same rules as the
subtraction of numbers in any other number system. The only variation is in
borrowed number. In the decimal system, you borrow a group of 10 10. In the
binary system, you borrow a group of 210. In the hexadecimal system you
borrow a group of 1610.
Example - Subtraction