12/14/2020 3 Ways to Convert from Decimal to Binary - wikiHow

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How to Convert from Decimal to Binary

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Last Updated: November 20, 2020 References Approved

The decimal (base ten) numeral system has ten possible values (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, or 9) for
each place-value. In contrast, the binary (base two) numeral system has two possible
values represented as 0 or 1 for each place-value.[1] Since the binary system is the internal
language of electronic computers, serious computer programmers should understand how
to convert from decimal to binary.

Method
1 Performing Short Division by Two with Remainder

Set up the problem. For this example, let's convert the decimal number
1 15610 to binary. Write the decimal number as the dividend inside an upside-
down "long division" symbol. Write the base of the destination system (in our
case, "2" for binary) as the divisor outside the curve of the division symbol.[2]
This method is much easier to understand when visualized on paper, and is
much easier for beginners, as it relies only on division by two.
To avoid confusion before and after conversion, write the number of the base
system that you are working with as a subscript of each number. In this
case, the decimal number will have a subscript of 10 and the binary
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Since we are dividing by 2, when the dividend is even the binary remainder
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will be 0, and when the dividend is odd the binary remainder will be 1.
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12/14/2020 3 Ways to Convert from Decimal to Binary - wikiHow

Continue to divide until you reach 0. Continue downwards, dividing each

3 new quotient by two and writing the remainders to the right of each dividend.
Stop when the quotient is 0.[4]

Write out the new, binary number. Starting with the bottom remainder,
4 read the sequence of remainders upwards to the top. For this example, you
should have 10011100. This is the binary equivalent of the decimal number 156.
Or, written with base subscripts: 15610 = 100111002[5]

This method can be modified to convert from decimal to any base. The
divisor is 2 because the desired destination is base 2 (binary). If the desired
destination is a different base, replace the 2 in the method with the desired
base. For example, if the desired destination is base 9, replace the 2 with 9.
The final result will then be in the desired base.

Method
2 Descending Powers of Two and Subtraction

Start by making a chart. List the powers of two in a "base 2 table" from
1 right to left. Start at 20, evaluating it as "1". Increment the exponent by one
for each power. Make the list up until you've reached a number very near the
decimal system number you're starting with. For this example, let's convert the
decimal number 15610 to binary.[6]

Look for the greatest power of 2. Choose the biggest number that will fit
2 into the number you are converting. 128 is the greatest power of two that will
fit into 156, so write a 1 beneath this box in your chart for the leftmost binary
digit. Then, subtract 128 from your initial number. You now have 28.[7]

Move to the next lower power of two. Using your new number (28), move
3 down the chart marking how many times each power of 2 can fit into your
dividend. 64 does not go into 28, so write a 0 beneath that box for the next
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You now have 12. 8 does go into 12, so write a 1 beneath 8's box and subtract it
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from 12. You now have 4.[9]
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12/14/2020 3 Ways to Convert from Decimal to Binary - wikiHow

Continue until you reach the end of your chart. Remember to mark a 1
5 beneath each number that does go into your new number, and a 0 beneath
those that don't.[10]

Write out the binary answer. The number will be exactly the same from left
6 to right as the 1's and 0's beneath your chart. You should have 10011100.
This is the binary equivalent of the decimal number 156. Or, written with base
subscripts: 15610 = 100111002.[11]

Repetition of this method will result in memorization of the powers of two,

which will allow you to skip Step 1.

Community Q&A

Question

How do you convert the fractional part of a decimal to a binary?

Community Answer

If the decimal number has a fractional part, then the fractional parts are
converted into binary by multiplying it by 2. Only the integer part of the result is
noted. Repeat the multiplication until the fractional part becomes 0. Eg. 0.75 is
the number we want to convert, so we'll start multiplying it by 2. 0.75 *2=1.50.
Here, the fractional part is not 0 so we repeat this until the fractional part
becomes 0. 1.50*2=3.00. Now take the integer part of the answer, 3, then
convert it into binary. 11 is the binary form of 3. Then place the decimal point in
front of the number, which is .11. Therefore, .11 is the binary form of .75

Question

How do
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12/14/2020 3 Ways to Convert from Decimal to Binary - wikiHow

Convert the mixed number to a decimal, then follow the instructions in the
article above.

Question

How do I convert 0.2663 into binary?

Jordan Newberry
Community Answer

Start by converting 0.2663 into the fraction 2,663 / 10,000 . Use the steps
above to convert 2,663 into the binary number 1010 0110 0111 and 10,000 into
10 0111 0001 0000 . So, now we have a binary fraction: 1010 0110 0111 / 10
0111 0001 0000 . Divide 1010 0110 0111 by 10 0111 0001 0000 . To do this,
follow the WikiHow article: "How to Divide Binary Numbers". When you divide
1010 0110 0111 by 10 0111 0001 0000 you should get 0.0100 0100 0010... I
rounded to the nearest 4,096 th.

Question

How do I convert 56 to binary?

Community Answer

Divide 56 by 2 and you will get a remainder 0 and q as 28, again divide 28 by 2
and so on. Now all the remainders you got from last to first will give you the
binary.

Question

How do I convert a decimal number from decimal to binary?

Community Answer

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2^4=16
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12/14/2020 3 Ways to Convert from Decimal to Binary - wikiHow

Question

How do I write 146 base 8-in decimal?

Jordan Newberry
Community Answer

The octal number 146 converts to the decimal number 102. This is because
146 has a 6 in the 1's place, a 4 in the 8's place and a 1 in the 64's place. This
gives us: (6 x 1) + (4 x 8) + (1 x 64) = 6 + 32 + 64 = 102.

Question

If a number is a fraction, how would you convert that to a binary?

Community Answer

Convert the numerator and denominator to binary individually. To convert

decimals, use the subtraction method above, using halves, quarters, eighths,
sixteenths, and so on for the new places.

Question

How do I convert 11,111 to binary?

Jordan Newberry
Community Answer

The decimal number 11,111 converts to 10 1011 0110 0111 in binary. If you
follow the steps above, you will arrive at this answer.

Question

How do I convert A001B0C into binary?

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That's quite a large number you've got there! A00 1B0C is a hexadecimal
Let'snumber
do this! that converts to 1010 0000 0000 0001 1011 0000 1100 in binary. A00

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12/14/2020 3 Ways to Convert from Decimal to Binary - wikiHow

1B0C means 167,779,084 in our every-day decimal system. Hexadecimal is

base 16, decimal is base 10 and binary is base 2.

Question

How can I convert a decimal to octal?

Donagan
Top Answerer

See the wikiHow article How to Convert from Decimal to Octal.

Tips

Converting in the opposite direction, from binary to decimal, is often easier to

learn first.

The calculator that comes installed with Windows 10 can do this conversion for
you, but as a programmer, you're better off with a good understanding of how
the conversion works. The calculator's conversion options can be made visible
by opening its "View" menu and selecting "Programmer"

Practice. Try converting the decimal numbers 17810, 6310, and 810. The binary
equivalents are 101100102, 1111112, and 10002. Try converting 20910, 2510, and
24110 to, respectively, 110100012, 110012, and 111100012.

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References

1. http://www.binarymath.info
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFf4MYQ0iow
3. http://www.inetdaemon.com/tutorials/basic_concepts/number_systems/binary/con
version.shtml
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFf4MYQ0iow
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFf4MYQ0iow
6. https://x-engineer.org/undergraduate-
engineering/mathematics/arithmetics/decimal-to-binary-conversion/
7. https://x-engineer.org/undergraduate-
engineering/mathematics/arithmetics/decimal-to-binary-conversion/
8. https://x-engineer.org/undergraduate-
engineering/mathematics/arithmetics/decimal-to-binary-conversion/
9. https://x-engineer.org/undergraduate-
engineering/mathematics/arithmetics/decimal-to-binary-conversion/
10. https://x-engineer.org/undergraduate-
engineering/mathematics/arithmetics/decimal-to-binary-conversion/
11. https://x-engineer.org/undergraduate-
engineering/mathematics/arithmetics/decimal-to-binary-conversion/

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