Number System in Computer

When we type some letters or words, the computer translates them in numbers as computers can understand
only numbers. A computer can understand positional number system where there are only a few symbols called
digits and these symbols represent different values depending on the position they occupy in the number.
A value of each digit in a number can be determined using
The digit
The position of the digit in the number
The base of the number system (where base is defined as the total number of digits available in the
number system).
Decimal Number System
The number system that we use in our day-to-day life is the decimal number system. Decimal number system
has base 10 as it uses 10 digits from 0 to 9. In decimal number system, the successive positions to the left of
the decimal point represent units, tens, hundreds, thousands and so on.
Each position represents a specific power of the base (10). For example, the decimal number 1234 consists of
the digit 4 in the units position, 3 in the tens position, 2 in the hundreds position, and 1 in the thousands
position, and its value can be written as
(1x1000)+ (2x100)+ (3x10)+ (4xl)
(1x103)+ (2x102)+ (3x101)+ (4xl00)
1000 + 200 + 30 + 4
1234
As a computer programmer or an IT professional, you should understand the following number systems which
are frequently used in computers.
S.N.

Number System and Description

Binary Number System

Base 2. Digits used : 0, 1

Octal Number System

Base 8. Digits used : 0 to 7

Hexa Decimal Number System

Base 16. Digits used : 0 to 9, Letters used : A- F

Binary Number System

Characteristics of binary number system are as follows:
Uses two digits, 0 and 1.
Also called base 2 number system
Each position in a binary number represents a 0 power of the base (2). Example 20

Last position in a binary number represents a x power of the base (2). Example 2x where x represents
the last position - 1.

Example
Binary Number : 101012
Calculating Decimal Equivalent:
Step

Binary
Number

Decimal Number

Step
1

101012

((1 x 24) + (0 x 23) + (1 x 22) + (0 x 21) + (1 x

20))10

Step
2

101012

(16 + 0 + 4 + 0 + 1)10

Step
3

101012

2110

Note: 101012 is normally written as 10101.

Octal Number System
Characteristics of octal number system are as follows:
Uses eight digits, 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7.
Also called base 8 number system
Each position in an octal number represents a 0 power of the base (8). Example 80
Last position in an octal number represents a x power of the base (8). Example 8x where x represents the
last position - 1.
Example
Octal Number: 125708
Calculating Decimal Equivalent:
Step

Octal
Number

Decimal Number

Step
1

125708

((1 x 84) + (2 x 83) + (5 x 82) + (7 x 81) + (0 x

80))10

Step
2

125708

(4096 + 1024 + 320 + 56 + 0)10

Step
3

125708

549610

Note : 125708 is normally written as 12570.

Hexadecimal Number System
Characteristics of hexadecimal number system are as follows:
Uses 10 digits and 6 letters, 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,A,B,C,D,E,F.
Letters represents numbers starting from 10. A = 10. B = 11, C = 12, D = 13, E = 14, F = 15.

Also called base 16 number system

Each position in a hexadecimal number represents a 0 power of the base (16). Example 160
Last position in a hexadecimal number represents a x power of the base (16). Example 16x where x
represents the last position - 1.

Example
Hexadecimal Number: 19FDE16
Calculating Decimal Equivalent:
Step

Binary
Number

Decimal Number

Step 1

19FDE16

((1 x 164) + (9 x 163) + (F x 162) + (D x 161) + (E

x 160))10

Step 2

19FDE16

((1 x 164) + (9 x 163) + (15 x 162) + (13 x 161) +

(14 x 160))10

Step 3

19FDE16

(65536+ 36864 + 3840 + 208 + 14)10

Step 4

19FDE16

10646210

Note : 19FDE16 is normally written as 19FDE.

There are many methods or techniques which can be used to convert numbers from one base to another. We'll
demonstrate here the following:

Decimal to Other Base System

Other Base System to Decimal

Other Base System to Non-Decimal

Shortcut method - Binary to Octal

Shortcut method - Octal to Binary

Shortcut method - Binary to Hexadecimal

Shortcut method - Hexadecimal to Binary

Decimal to Other Base System

Steps
Steps 1 - Divide the decimal number to be converted by the value of the new base.
Step 2 - Get the remainder from Step 1 as the rightmost digit (least significant digit) of new base

number.
Step 3 - Divide the quotient of the previous divide by the new base.
Step 4 - Record the remainder from Step 3 as the next digit (to the left) of the new base number.

Repeat Steps 3 and 4, getting remainders from right to left, until the quotient becomes zero in Step 3.
The last remainder thus obtained will be the most significant digit (MSD) of the new base number.
Example
Decimal Number : 2910
Calculating Binary Equivalent:
Step

Operation

Result

Remainder

Step 1

29 / 2

14

Step 2

14 / 2

Step 3

7/2

Step 4

3/2

Step 5

1/2

As mentioned in Steps 2 and 4, the remainders have to be arranged in the reverse order so that the first
remainder becomes the least significant digit (LSD) and the last remainder becomes the most significant digit
(MSD).
Decimal Number : 2910 = Binary Number : 111012.
Other base system to Decimal System
Steps
Steps 1 - Determine the column (positional) value of each digit (this depends on the position of the digit

and the base of the number system).

Step 2 - Multiply the obtained column values (in Step 1) by the digits in the corresponding columns.
Step 3 - Sum the products calculated in Step 2. The total is the equivalent value in decimal.

Example
Binary Number: 111012
Calculating Decimal Equivalent:
Step

Binary
Number

Decimal Number

Step
1

111012

((1 x 24) + (1 x 23) + (1 x 22) + (0 x 21) + (1 x

20))10

Step
2

111012

(16 + 8 + 4 + 0 + 1)10

Step
3

111012

2910

Binary Number : 111012 = Decimal Number : 2910

Other Base System to Non-Decimal System
Steps

Step 1 - Convert the original number to a decimal number (base 10).

Step 2 - Convert the decimal number so obtained to the new base number.

Example
Octal Number : 258
Calculating Binary Equivalent:
Step 1 : Convert to Decimal
Step

Octal
Number

Decimal Number

Step
1

258

((2 x 81) + (5 x 80))10

Step
2

258

(16 + 5 )10

Step
3

258

2110

Octal Number : 258 = Decimal Number : 2110

Step 2 : Convert Decimal to Binary
Step

Operation

Result

Remainder

Step 1

21 / 2

10

Step 2

10 / 2

Step 3

5/2

Step 4

2/2

Step 5

1/2

Decimal Number : 2110 = Binary Number : 101012

Octal Number : 258 = Binary Number : 101012
Shortcut method - Binary to Octal
Steps
Step 1 - Divide the binary digits into groups of three (starting from the right).
Step 2 - Convert each group of three binary digits to one octal digit.
Example
Binary Number : 101012
Calculating Octal Equivalent:
Step

Binary Number

Octal Number

Step 1

101012

010 101

Step 2

101012

28 58

Step 3

101012

258

Binary Number : 101012 = Octal Number : 258

Shortcut method - Octal to Binary
Steps
Step 1 - Convert each octal digit to a 3 digit binary number (the octal digits may be treated as decimal

for this conversion).

Step 2 - Combine all the resulting binary groups (of 3 digits each) into a single binary number.

Example
Octal Number : 258
Calculating Binary Equivalent:
Step

Octal Number

Binary Number

Step 1

258

210 510

Step 2

258

0102 1012

Step 3

258

0101012

Octal Number : 258 = Binary Number : 101012

Shortcut method - Binary to Hexadecimal
Steps
Step 1 - Divide the binary digits into groups of four (starting from the right).
Step 2 - Convert each group of four binary digits to one hexadecimal symbol.
Example
Binary Number : 101012
Calculating hexadecimal Equivalent:
Step

Binary Number

Hexadecimal Number

Step 1

101012

0001 0101

Step 2

101012

110 510

Step 3

101012

1516

Binary Number : 101012 = Hexadecimal Number : 1516

Shortcut method - Hexadecimal to Binary
steps
Step 1 - Convert each hexadecimal digit to a 4 digit binary number (the hexadecimal digits may be

treated as decimal for this conversion).

Step 2 - Combine all the resulting binary groups (of 4 digits each) into a single binary number.

Example

Hexadecimal Number : 1516

Calculating Binary Equivalent:
Step

Hexadecimal Number

Binary Number

Step 1

1516

110 510

Step 2

1516

00012 01012

Step 3

1516

000101012

Hexadecimal Number : 1516 = Binary Number : 101012

Hardware represents the physical and tangible components of a computer i.e. the components that can be seen
and touched.
Examples of Hardware are following:

Input devices -- keyboard, mouse etc.

Output devices -- printer, monitor etc.

Secondary storage devices -- Hard disk, CD, DVD etc.

Internal components -- CPU, motherboard, RAM etc.

Relationship between Hardware and Software

Hardware and software are mutually dependent on each other. Both of them must work together to make a computer
produce a useful output.

Software cannot be utilized without supporting hardware.

Hardware without set of programs to operate upon cannot be utilized and is useless.

To get a particular job done on the computer, relevant software should be loaded into the hardware

Hardware is a one-time expense.

Software development is very expensive and is a continuing expense.

Different software applications can be loaded on a hardware to run different jobs.

A software acts as an interface between the user and the hardware.

If hardware is the 'heart' of a computer system, then software is its 'soul'. Both are complimentary to each other.

Software is a set of programs, which is designed to perform a well-defined function. A program is a sequence
of instructions written to solve a particular problem.
There are two types of software

System Software

Application Software

System Software
The system software is collection of programs designed to operate, control, and extend the processing
capabilities of the computer itself. System software are generally prepared by computer manufactures. These
software products comprise of programs written in low-level languages which interact with the hardware at a
very basic level. System software serves as the interface between hardware and the end users.
Some examples of system software are Operating System, Compilers, Interpreter, Assemblers etc.

Features of system software are as follows:

Close to system

Fast in speed

Difficult to design

Difficult to understand

Less interactive

Smaller in size

Difficult to manipulate

Generally written in low-level language

Application Software
Application software products are designed to satisfy a particular need of a particular environment. All
software applications prepared in the computer lab can come under the category of Application software.
Application software may consist of a single program, such as a Microsoft's notepad for writing and editing
simple text. It may also consist of a collection of programs, often called a software package, which work
together to accomplish a task, such as a spreadsheet package.
Examples of Application software are following:

Payroll Software

Student Record Software

Inventory Management Software

Income Tax Software

Railways Reservation Software

Microsoft Office Suite Software

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Powerpoint

Features of application software are as follows:

Close to user

Easy to design

More interactive

Slow in speed

Generally written in high-level language

Easy to understand

Easy to manipulate and use

Bigger in size and requires large storage space