QA – Basics Conversions

Conversions in Base System

There are 3 common type of questions:
1) (N)10 to (N)x and vice-versa
2) (N)x to (N)y where (x, y)≠ 10
3) (N) x to (N)y, x and y are not known.

(N)10 to (N)x and vice-versa

Logic:
Example: (99)10 is to written in base 9, 8, 7, 6,5 and 4
(99)10 = 1 92 + 2 91 + 0 9° = (120)9
2 1
(99)10 = 1 8 +4 8 +3 8° = (143)8
2 1
(99)10 = 2 7 +0 7 +1 7° = (201)7
(99)10 = 2 62 + 4 61 + 3 6° = (243)6
(99)10 = 3 52 + 4 51 + 4 5° = (344)5
(99)10 =1 43 + 2 42 + 0 41 + 3 4° = (1203)5

Short cut:
Divide the number by 'base', and then successively divide the quotients by 'b'. The
remainders, written in reverse order, give the equivalent number in base 'b'.
Example: Write the number 150 in base 5.

150 0
30
0
6
1 1
0
1

Writing the remainders in reverse order: 1100. So (150)10 =(1100)5

Example: (864)10 in the base of 4.

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QA – Basics Conversions

864
216 0
0
54
2
13 1
3 3
0

Writing the remainders in reverse order: 31200. So (864)10 =(31200)4

(N)x to (N)y where (x, y)≠ 10.

2 step process:
1) Step 1 Convert into base 10.
2) Step 2 Convert this number into the required base
Example: (429)7 =(?)6
(426)7= 4 72 + 2 7 + 6= (216) 10

216 0
36 0
6 0
1 1
0

Therefore (216) 10 = (1000) 6

One base is a power of another base

Example, (Base)2 to (Base)4 or (Base)2 to (Base)8 or (Base)3 to (Base)9
Converting (101110010)2 to Octal ()8 system
3
Since 2 =8, therefore groups of three digits of binary number starting from right are to be
formed and the decimal equivalent of each group (left to right) is to be found.
So,(110010110)2 is now (110)2(010)2(110)2
Now, (110)2 = 1 22 + 1 2 +0 = 6
(010)2 = 0 + 1 21 + 0 2° = 2
2 1
(110)2 = 1 2 +1 2 +0 2° = 6

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QA – Basics Conversions

So, (110010110)2 = (626)8

Converting (110010110)2 to Hexa-decimal ()]6 system
At first, we will club four digits of binary number into a single block and then write the decimal
equivalent of each group (left to right).
So, (110010110)2 is now (0001)2(1001)2(0110)2
Now, decimal equivalent of (0001)2= 1
Decimal equivalent of (1001)2 = 9
Decimal equivalent of (0110)2 = 6
(101110010)2=(196)16

(N) x to (N)y, x and y are not known.

Example: In a system of writing of N digits, 5 4 = 26 and 3 6 = 24. What will be the value of
N= 2 4 6 in the same system of writing?
Solution: (26)N = 2 N1 + 6 N0 = 20
=> 2N = 14
=> N = 7
2 x 4 x 6 = 48 will be written as 66. (48 = 6 71 + 6 7°)

Conversion of numbers with decimals

1) (12.234)5 is to be converted into decimal system:

(12)5 =7
(0.234)5 = 2 5-1 + 3 5-2 + 4 5-3 = 69/125 =0.552
So, (12.234)5=(7.552)10

2) (12.234)10 : Convert into (5 digits)

(12)10 = (22)5
Now to convert (0.234)10 into ( )5, we will apply the .following method:
0.234 5 = 1.17 Take out integral part from here.
0.17 5 = .85 Take out integral part from here.
.85 5 = 4.25 Take out integral part from here.
0.25 5 = 1 .25 Take out integral part from here.

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QA – Basics Conversions

And keep doing this till we get decimal part as zero, i.e. the product should be an integer.
(0.234)10 = (0.1041... )5
So, (12.234) = (22.1041... )5

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