Number Systems and Coding Representations
Step-by-Step Conversion Process
For this assignment, I will take the first three digits of my birthdate as one number. Suppose the date of
birth is 15-09-2002, then the number is 150.
1. Decimal to Binary Conversion
To convert 150 into binary, divide the number by 2 repeatedly and record the remainders:
150 ÷ 2 = 75 remainder 0
75 ÷ 2 = 37 remainder 1
37 ÷ 2 = 18 remainder 1
18 ÷ 2 = 9 remainder 0
9 ÷ 2 = 4 remainder 1
4 ÷ 2 = 2 remainder 0
2 ÷ 2 = 1 remainder 0
1 ÷ 2 = 0 remainder 1
Reading the remainders from bottom to top, the binary representation of 150 is:
10010110₂
2. Decimal to Octal Conversion
Divide 150 repeatedly by 8:
150 ÷ 8 = 18 remainder 6
18 ÷ 8 = 2 remainder 2
2 ÷ 8 = 0 remainder 2
Reading from bottom to top, the octal representation is:
226₈
3. Decimal to Hexadecimal Conversion
Divide 150 repeatedly by 16:
150 ÷ 16 = 9 remainder 6
9 ÷ 16 = 0 remainder 9
Reading from bottom to top, the hexadecimal representation is:
96₁₆
So, 150 = 10010110₂ = 226₈ = 96₁₆.
Importance of Number System Conversion in Industry
Proficiency in number system conversion is critical in technical jobs because different systems (binary,
octal, hexadecimal, decimal) are used for programming, encoding, and hardware communication.
Use Case 1 – Embedded Systems:
Engineers often use binary and hexadecimal to program microcontrollers. Incorrect conversion can cause
system crashes or incorrect signal transmission.
Use Case 2 – Networking and Cybersecurity:
IP addresses, subnetting, and encryption techniques rely heavily on binary and hexadecimal. For
example, understanding how IPv6 addresses are compressed requires hexadecimal knowledge.
Without conversion skills, communication between software and hardware becomes inefficient and
error-prone.
Comparison of Coding Representations
1. ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)
Character set size: 128 characters (7-bit).
Compatibility: Works well with older systems.
Applications: Text files, legacy systems.
Efficiency: Lightweight, but limited for global languages.
2. Unicode
Character set size: Over 143,000 characters (supports almost all writing systems).
Compatibility: Modern standard for web and software.
Applications: Multilingual text processing, global applications.
Efficiency: Requires more storage, but highly versatile.
3. BCD (Binary-Coded Decimal)
Character set size: Only digits (0–9), represented in binary form.
Compatibility: Useful in financial and calculator systems.
Applications: Banking, digital displays.
Efficiency: Easy decimal conversion, but storage inefficient compared to pure binary.
Recommended Representation
For a project involving communication between multiple devices, Unicode is the best choice. Unlike
ASCII, it supports multiple languages, symbols, and special characters. Compared to BCD, Unicode is far
more flexible for text-based data exchange.
Example Where Representation Choice Matters
Consider a multinational company developing a messaging platform. If they chose ASCII, users typing
Arabic, Chinese, or Urdu would not see their text properly displayed. The project could fail globally due
to lack of language support. By choosing Unicode, the system accommodates diverse scripts, ensuring
global usability and customer satisfaction.
Conclusion
Converting decimal numbers into binary, octal, and hexadecimal is not just an academic exercise but a
practical skill for real-world applications. Proficiency in number systems ensures smooth hardware–
software communication and prevents costly errors in technical industries. Furthermore, choosing the
right coding representation, such as Unicode, is essential for ensuring efficiency, compatibility, and global
communication in modern systems.
References
Tanenbaum, A. S., & Bos, H. (2015). Modern operating systems (4th ed.). Pearson.
Stallings, W. (2021). Computer organization and architecture (11th ed.). Pearson.
Unicode Consortium. (2023). The Unicode Standard. Retrieved from https://www.unicode.org
