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The Number System

Presented to: Prof. Melinda G. San Juan

Presented by:
Alindogan, Maria Cristina Jurado, Clarisse Anne C. Maaliw, Bianca Jane B. Natanauan, Jenny Jane

Introduction to Number System


When humans are speaking to one another, they speak in a particular language. This language is made of words and letters. Although we type words and letters in the computer, the computer does not understand the words and letters. Rather, those words and letters are translated into numbers. Computers talk and understand in numbers. Technical computer personnel require thorough knowledge of this subject, but most users need only a general understanding of number systems and how they relate to computers. This paper aims to cover the different topics a student, taking up the subject fundamentals of computer, should know about the number system. As we go through the discussion, we should be able to identify the different number base system, learn to convert base ten numbers to base two, eight or sixteen and or vice versa, and also to perform basic operations on various base numbers. The four number systems we should identify: The Decimal Number System The Binary Number System The Octal Number System The Hexadecimal Number System These are the number systems that we should familiarize ourselves as we push through in learning the fundamentals of computer. These number systems are to be discussed, its brief definition and usage, the procedures and steps on how it was processed by the computer, aiding us to understand the complex functions of computer that helped us even in our simplest tasks.

Important terms to remember


Number base A number base is a specific collection of symbols on which a number system can be built. The number base familiar to us is base 10, upon which the decimal number system is built. There are ten symbols - 0 to 9 - used in the decimal system. Place value Place value means that the value of a digit in a number depends not only on its own natural value but also on its location in the number. It is used interchangeably with the term positional notation. Place value tells us that the two 4s in the number 3474 have different values, that is, 400 and 4, respectively.

The mathematical principles that applied to the binary, octal and hexadecimal number system are the same as those that apply to the decimal number system. For us to better understand the processes in these principles, well start-off our discussion with the familiar decimal system, then progresses to the binary, octal and hexadecimal number system.

The Decimal Number System


The word decimal comes from the Latin word decem, meaning ten. The decimal number system is the system that is commonly known with people because it is most frequently used in arithmetic and in everyday life. The decimal number system is also known as the

base-10 number system, because each position in the number represents an incremental number with a base of 10. Thus the number base of the decimal number system is base 10. Since it is in base 10, ten symbols are used in the decimal number system. {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9} This means that only the digits in the above set can be used for each position in every place value in a given decimal number. In the given : 270

We note that the highlighted place value can be filled by the digits in the set {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9). Thus, it can be increased by 1 until reaches 279.

At this point, the symbols that can be used to fill the highlighted position have been exhausted. Increasing it further causes a shift in place value and resets the initial place value to zero. Thus,

Lets take a look at an example of interpreting a base-10 number. An example number in the decimal system is 1374. We know this number as one thousand, three hundred and seventy-four. This is how to interpret the number:

The number 1374 is actually a representation of decimal positions.


The first position at the furthest right of the number represents 100 The next position represents 101 The next position represents 102 As we move further left of the number, each power is incremented by 1. In order to determine what the number actually is in the position, take the number that appears in the position, and multiply it by 10x, where x represents the power.

Add all the numbers together from each position to find out what the number is.

Another illustration:
Case Study: 3474 Using place values, the number 3474 is understood to mean,

3000 + 400 + 70 + 4 = 3474 This can also be expressed as (3x1000) + (4x100) + (7x10) + 4 = 3474 Note that each digit is multiplied by powers of 10, so that the above is equal to (3x103) + (4x102) + (7x101) + (4x100) = 3474 Note that the rightmost exponent starts from zero and increases by 1 as the place value increases. Hence, the decimal number system is said to be in base 10.

*Note: The base of the number system indicates the number of symbols that it uses, and each position in a number system has a value associated with it. By raising the base of the number system to consecutive powers beginning with zero, you can calculate the positional or the place value.

The Binary Number System


The Binary number system is used to represent the electronic status of the bits in memory. It is also used for other purposes such as addressing the memory locations. Because of its straightforward implementation in digital electronic circuitry using logic gates, the binary system is used internally by almost all modern computers and computer-based devices such as mobile phones. The word binary comes from the Latin word bis, meaning double. Thus, the number base of the binary number system is base 2.

Since it is in base 2, two symbols are used in binary number system. {0,1} This means that only the digits in the above set can be used for each position in every place value in a given binary number.

Illustration:

Note that the highlighted place value can be filled by the digits in the set {0,1}. Thus, it can be increased by 1 until it reaches -

At this point, the symbols that can be used to fill the highlighted position has been exhausted. Increasing it further causes a shift in place value, and resets the initial place value to zero. Thus -

To avoid confusion, one should write binary number with base 2 as its subscript whenever necessary. Thus, the binary number should be written as 101102 It should be read as one-zero-one-one-zero base two and NOT ten-thousand onehundred ten since each phrase denotes an entirely different number.

Other examples: 101102

We know that the decimal number 3474 can be expressed as powers of 10 (3x103) + (4x102) + (7x101) + (4x100) = 347410 In the same manner, the binary number 101102 can be expressed as powers of 2 (1x24) + (0x23) + (1x22) + (1x21) + (0x20) = 2210 Note that the rightmost exponent starts from zero and increases by 1 as the place value increases. Hence, the binary number system is said to be in base 2.

The Octal Number System


The word octal comes from the Greek word okt, meaning eight. Thus, the number base of the octal number system is base 8. Since it is in base 8, eight symbols are used in the octal number system. {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7} This means that only the digits in the above set can be used for each position in every place value in a given octal number. Illustration:

Note that the highlighted place value can be filled by the digits in the set {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7}.

Thus, it can be increased by 1 until it reaches

At this point, the symbols that can be used to fill the highlighted position has been exhausted. Increasing it further causes a shift in place value, and resets the initial place value to zero. Thus

To avoid confusion, one should write an octal number with base 8 as its subscript whenever necessary. Thus, the octal number 72143 should be written as 721438 It should be read as seven-two-one-four-three base eight and NOT seventy twothousand one-hundred forty three since each phrase denotes an entirely different number. Other Example: 721438

We know that the decimal number 3474 can be expressed as powers of 10 (3x103) + (4x102) + (7x101) + (4x100) = 347410 In the same manner, the octal number 721438 can be expressed as powers of 8 (7x84) + (2x83) + (1x82) + (4x81) + (3x80) = 2979510

Note that the rightmost exponent starts from zero and increases by 1 as the place value increases. Hence, the octal number system is said to be in base 8.

The Hexadecimal Number System


Another number commonly used with computers is hexadecimal. The computer uses the hexadecimal number system to communicate with a programmer when a problem with a program exists, because it would be difficult for a programmer to understand the 0s and 1s of binary code. The primary reasons the hexadecimal number system is used with computers are (1) it can represent binary values in a more compact and readable form, and (2) the conversion between the binary and hexadecimal number systems is very efficient. The word hexadecimal is a combination of the Greek word hex, meaning six and the Latin word decem, meaning ten. Thus, the number base of the hexadecimal number system is base 16. Since it is in base 16, sixteen symbols are used in the hexadecimal number system. {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E,F} This means that only the digits in the above set can be used for each position in every place value in a given hexadecimal number Illustration:

Note that the highlighted place value can be filled by the digits in the set {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E,F}. Thus, it can be increased by 1 until it reaches

At this point, the symbols that can be used to fill the highlighted position have been exhausted. Increasing it further causes a shift in place value, and resets the initial place value to zero. Thus

To avoid confusion, one should write a hexadecimal number with base 16 as its subscript whenever necessary. Thus, the hexadecimal number B23C should be written as B23C16 It should be read as b-two-three-c base sixteen.

Other example: B23C16

We know that the decimal number 3474 can be expressed as powers of 10 (3x103) + (4x102) + (7x101) + (4x100) = 347410 In the same manner, the hexadecimal number B23C16 can be expressed as powers of 16 (11x163) + (2x162) + (3x161) + (12x160) = 4562810 Note that the rightmost exponent starts from zero and increases by 1 as the place value increases. Hence, the hexadecimal number system is said to be in base 16.

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