A number system, or the numeral system, is a mathematical way of representing a set of values using digits or symbols. It uniquely represents a number and helps perform mathematical operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
It also helps to determine the value of any digit based on its position in the number and the base of the number system.
Types
Based on the base of the number system, different types of number systems are used in calculations. However, 4 of them are most commonly used.
Here is a chart of the 4 main types of number systems with their base values and digits.
Decimal Number System (Base 10)
The decimal number system consists of digits 0 to 9 with a base of 10. Here, the first few successive places left of the decimal point represent units, tens, hundreds, and thousands. It is the number system we commonly use in real life.
4510, 28910, and 578110 are examples of decimal numbers. Here, the number 578110 can be represented based on its place value:
(5 × 103) + (7 × 102) + (8 × 101) + (1 × 100)
= (5 × 1000) + (7 × 100) + (8 × 10) + (1 × 1)
= 5000 + 700 + 80 + 1
= 5781
Binary Number System (Base 2)
The binary number system uses digits 0 and 1. The numbers have base 2. 0 and 1 are called bits, and 8 such bits make a byte. Computers and other digital devices store data in bits and bytes. It is thus the number system used in computers.
101012, 1110012, and 1010102 are some examples of binary numbers.
Octal Number System (Base 8)
The octal number system uses numbers 0 to 7 with a base of 8. Thus, it has fewer digits than the decimal number system. Along with the binary numbers system, octal number systems are used in computers.
78, 478, and 16818 are examples of octal numbers.
Hexadecimal Number System (Base 16)
The hexadecimal number system uses sixteen digits and alphabets. It includes numbers 0 to 9, as in the decimal number system, and alphabets A to E with a base of 16. Here, the letters A to E represent numbers from 10 to 15. This number system is also used in computers to reduce the large string size of binary numbers.
9A516, 4E16, and 6C2B16 are some examples of hexadecimal numbers.
Number System Conversion
A number can be converted from one number system to another according to our needs.
To convert numbers in binary, octal, or hexadecimal systems to other systems, we first convert them to decimal systems and then to the system we want to convert.
Check our articles on binary, decimal, octal, and hexadecimal number systems to learn how to convert numbers from one number system to another.
The table shows numbers 1 to 20 in binary, decimal, and hexadecimal form:
Binary
Decimal
Hexadecimal
0
0
0
1
1
1
10
2
2
11
3
3
100
4
4
101
5
5
110
6
6
111
7
7
1000
8
8
1001
9
9
1010
10
10
1011
11
A
1100
12
B
1101
13
C
1110
14
D
1111
15
E
10000
16
F
10001
17
11
10010
18
12
10011
19
13
10100
20
14
Solved Examples
Convert (1579)16 to the decimal number.
Solution:
Given (2579)16 is a hexadecimal number. For converting the hexadecimal number to the corresponding decimal number: = 2 × 163 + 5 × 162 + 7 × 161 + 6 × 160 = 8192 + 1280 + 112 + 6 = (9590)10
Convert 10111 into the decimal system.
Solution:
Given, (10111)2 is a binary number. Multiplying each digit of the given number, starting from the right, with the exponents of the base and adding the results, we get: = (1 × 24) + (0 × 23) + (1 × 22) + (1 × 21) + (1 × 20) = 16 + 8 + 4 + 1 = 29 Thus, (10111)2 = (29)10
