Assignment on Number Systems in
Computers
1. Introduction
The number system is the fundamental concept of computer science and digital electronics.
Computers work internally with numbers, not human languages, and every piece of data,
whether it is text, images, videos, or sound, is represented in the form of numbers. There
are different types of number systems used in computing, but the most important ones are
Decimal, Binary, Octal, and Hexadecimal systems. Each system has its own base and a
unique set of digits. Understanding these systems and their conversions is essential for
programming, networking, and the overall study of computers.
2. Decimal Number System
The Decimal Number System is the system that humans use in daily life. It is a Base-10
system and consists of 10 unique digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. The value of a digit in a
decimal number depends on its position, which is based on powers of 10. For example, the
number 437 in decimal is represented as (4 × 10²) + (3 × 10¹) + (7 × 10⁰) = 400 + 30 + 7.
This system is easy for humans to understand and is widely used in everyday life,
commerce, science, and education.
3. Binary Number System
The Binary Number System is the fundamental language of computers. It is a Base-2 system
and consists of only two digits: 0 and 1. Each position in a binary number has a value based
on powers of 2. For example, the binary number 1011 is calculated as (1 × 2³) + (0 × 2²) + (1
× 2¹) + (1 × 2⁰) = 8 + 0 + 2 + 1 = 11 in decimal. Since computers operate using switches that
can be ON (1) or OFF (0), binary is the most suitable system for internal processing and data
representation in digital devices.
4. Hexadecimal Number System
The Hexadecimal Number System is a Base-16 system used frequently in computer science
because of its compactness. It uses 16 symbols: 0–9 for values 0 to 9, and A, B, C, D, E, F for
values 10 to 15. Each digit in hexadecimal has a place value based on powers of 16. For
example, the hexadecimal number 2F is equal to (2 × 16¹) + (15 × 16⁰) = 32 + 15 = 47 in
decimal. Hexadecimal is commonly used in programming, memory addressing, and color
coding because it is easier to read and write compared to long binary sequences.
5. Comparison of Number Systems
Feature Decimal (Base 10) Binary (Base 2) Hexadecimal (Base
16)
Digits Used 0–9 0, 1 0–9, A–F
Base 10 2 16
Human Readability Very Easy Difficult Easier than Binary
Usage General Computer Memory addresses,
mathematics processing coding
Example 543 1011 2F
6. Conversion Between Number Systems
a) Binary to Decimal: Multiply each binary digit with the power of 2 according to its
position.
Example: 1101₂ = (1 × 2³) + (1 × 2²) + (0 × 2¹) + (1 × 2⁰) = 8 + 4 + 0 + 1 = 13₁₀.
b) Decimal to Binary: Divide the decimal number by 2 repeatedly until quotient is 0, then
read remainders in reverse.
Example: 19₁₀ = 10011₂.
c) Hexadecimal to Binary: Replace each hex digit with its 4-bit binary equivalent.
Example: A3₁₆ = 1010 0011₂.
d) Binary to Hexadecimal: Group binary digits in sets of 4 bits and convert into hex symbols.
Example: 11010111₂ = D7₁₆.
7. Importance of Number Systems in Computers
The different number systems serve specific roles in computing. Binary is the internal
language used by all computers because it matches the ON and OFF states of electronic
switches. Decimal is used for human interaction with computers because it is easy to read
and understand. Hexadecimal acts as a bridge, making binary values more compact and
readable in programming, debugging, and designing digital systems.
8. Exercise
1. Convert 10101₂ into Decimal.
2. Convert 245₁₀ into Binary.
3. Convert 7B₁₆ into Binary.
4. Convert 1101110₂ into Hexadecimal.
5. Explain the advantages of Hexadecimal over Binary.
9. Conclusion
The study of number systems is essential in computer science. Decimal is natural for
humans, binary is the foundation of computer processing, and hexadecimal simplifies the
readability of binary numbers. Understanding conversions and applications of these
systems is crucial for students, programmers, and anyone working in the digital world.
