Number system
Number system
If base or radix of a number system is ‘r’, then the numbers present in that number system are
ranging from zero to r-1. The total numbers present in that number system is ‘r’. So, we will get
various number systems, by choosing the values of radix as greater than or equal to two.
In this chapter, let us discuss about the popular number systems and how to represent a
number in the respective number system. The following number systems are the most
commonly used.
Decimal Number system
Binary Number system
Octal Number system
Hexadecimal Number system
Decimal Number System
The base or radix of Decimal number system is 10. So, the numbers ranging from 0 to 9 are
used in this number system. The part of the number that lies to the left of the decimal point is
known as integer part. Similarly, the part of the number that lies to the right of the decimal point
is known as fractional part.
In this number system, the successive positions to the left of the decimal point having weights
of 100, 101, 102, 103 and so on. Similarly, the successive positions to the right of the decimal
point having weights of 10 -1, 10-2, 10-3and so on. That means, each position has specific weight,
which is power of base 10
Example
Consider the decimal number 1358.246. Integer part of this number is 1358 and fractional part
of this number is 0.246. The digits 8, 5, 3 and 1 have weights of 100, 101, 10 2 and
103 respectively. Similarly, the digits 2, 4 and 6 have weights of 10 -1, 10-2 and 10-3 respectively.
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Number system
Mathematically, we can write it as
1358.246 = (1 × 103) + (3 × 102) + (5 × 101) + (8 × 100) + (2 × 10-1) +
(4 × 10-2) + (6 × 10-3)
After simplifying the right hand side terms, we will get the decimal number, which is on left
hand side.
Binary Number System
All digital circuits and systems use this binary number system. The base or radix of this number
system is 2. So, the numbers 0 and 1 are used in this number system.
The part of the number, which lies to the left of the binary point is known as integer part.
Similarly, the part of the number, which lies to the right of the binary point is known as
fractional part.
In this number system, the successive positions to the left of the binary point having weights of
20, 21, 22, 23 and so on. Similarly, the successive positions to the right of the binary point having
weights of 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 and so on. That means, each position has specific weight, which is power
of base 2.
Example
Consider the binary number 1101.011. Integer part of this number is 1101 and fractional part
of this number is 0.011. The digits 1, 0, 1 and 1 of integer part have weights of 2 0, 21, 22,
23 respectively. Similarly, the digits 0, 1 and 1 of fractional part have weights of 2 -1, 2-2, 2-
3
respectively.
Mathematically, we can write it as
1101.011 = (1 × 23) + (1 × 22) + (0 × 21) + (1 × 20) + (0 × 2-1) +
(1 × 2-2) + (1 × 2-3)
After simplifying the right hand side terms, we will get a decimal number, which is an
equivalent of binary number on left hand side.
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Number system
Octal Number System
The base or radix of octal number system is 8. So, the numbers ranging from 0 to 7 are used in
this number system. The part of the number that lies to the left of the octal point is known as
integer part. Similarly, the part of the number that lies to the right of the octal point is known as
fractional part.
In this number system, the successive positions to the left of the octal point having weights of
80, 81, 82, 83 and so on. Similarly, the successive positions to the right of the octal point having
weights of 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 and so on. That means, each position has specific weight, which is power
of base 8.
Example
Consider the octal number 1457.236. Integer part of this number is 1457 and fractional part of
this number is 0.236. The digits 7, 5, 4 and 1 have weights of 8 0, 81, 82 and 83 respectively.
Similarly, the digits 2, 3 and 6 have weights of 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 respectively.
Mathematically, we can write it as
1457.236 = (1 × 83) + (4 × 82) + (5 × 81) + (7 × 80) + (2 × 8-1) +
(3 × 8-2) + (6 × 8-3)
After simplifying the right hand side terms, we will get a decimal number, which is an
equivalent of octal number on left hand side.
Hexadecimal Number System
The base or radix of Hexa-decimal number system is 16. So, the numbers ranging from 0 to 9
and the letters from A to F are used in this number system. The decimal equivalent of Hexa-
decimal digits from A to F are 10 to 15.
The part of the number, which lies to the left of the hexadecimal point is known as integer part.
Similarly, the part of the number, which lies to the right of the Hexa-decimal point is known as
fractional part.
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Number system
In this number system, the successive positions to the left of the Hexa-decimal point having
weights of 160, 161, 162, 163 and so on. Similarly, the successive positions to the right of the
Hexa-decimal point having weights of 16 -1, 16-2, 16-3 and so on. That means, each position has
specific weight, which is power of base 16.
Example
Consider the Hexa-decimal number 1A05.2C4. Integer part of this number is 1A05 and
fractional part of this number is 0.2C4. The digits 5, 0, A and 1 have weights of 16 0, 161,
162 and 163 respectively. Similarly, the digits 2, C and 4 have weights of 16 -1, 16-2 and 16-
3
respectively.
Mathematically, we can write it as
1A05.2C4 = (1 × 163) + (10 × 162) + (0 × 161) + (5 × 160) + (2 × 16-1) + (12 × 16-2) + (4 × 16-3)
After simplifying the right hand side terms, we will get a decimal number, which is an
equivalent of Hexa-decimal number on left hand side.
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