Data Representation

and
Numbering System

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• Data Representation refers to the methods
used internally to represent information
stored in a computer. Computers store lots
of different types of information:
– numbers
– text
– graphics of many varieties (stills, video,
animation)
– sound

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• At least, these all seem different to us.
However, ALL types of information
stored in a computer are stored
internally in the same simple format: a
sequence of 0's and 1's. How can a
sequence of 0's and 1's represent
things as diverse as your photograph,
your favorite song, a recent movie, and
your term paper?

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• It all depends on how we interpret the
information. Computers use numeric codes
to represent all the information they store.
These codes are similar to those you may
have used as a child to encrypt secret
notes: let 1 stand for A, 2 stand for B, etc.
With this code, any written message can be
represented numerically.

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• The codes used by computers are a bit
more sophisticated, and they are based on
the binary number system (base two)
instead of the more familiar (for the
moment, at least!) decimal system.
Computers use a variety of different codes.
Some are used for numbers, others for text,
and still others for sound and graphics.

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 Data Representation
How do computers represent data?
 Computers are digital
• Recognize only two discrete states:
on or off
• Computers are electronic devices
powered by electricity, which has only
two states, on or off

on 1 1 1 1 1

off 0 0 0 0 0
 Data Representation
What is the binary system?
 A number system that has just two unique digits, 0 and 1
• A single digit is called a bit (binary digit)
• A bit is the smallest unit of data the computer can represent
• By itself a bit is not very informative
 The two digits represent the two off and on states
Binary Electronic Electronic
Digit (bit) Charge State
 Data Representation
What is a byte?
 Eight bits are grouped together to form a byte
 0s and 1s in each byte are used to represent
individual characters such as letters of the
alphabet, numbers, and punctuation
8-bit byte for the number 3

8-bit byte for the number 5

8-bit byte for the capital letter T

 Data Representation
What are two popular coding systems to represent
data?
 American Standard
Code for Information
Interchange (ASCII)
 Extended Binary
Coded Decimal
Interchange Code
(EBCDIC)
• Sufficient for
English and
Western European
languages
• Unicode often
used for others
 Data Representation
How is a character sent from the keyboard to the computer?

Step 1:
The user presses the letter T key
on the keyboard
Step 2:
An electronic signal for the letter
T is sent to the system unit
Step 3:
The signal for the letter T is
converted to its ASCII binary
code (01010100) and is stored in
memory for processing
Step 4:
After processing, the binary
code for the letter T is converted
to an image on the output device
Numbering Systems

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Introduction to Numbering Systems

We are all familiar with the decimal number system

(Base 10). Some other number systems that we will
work with are:

– Binary  Base 2
– Octal  Base 8
– Hexadecimal  Base 16

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Characteristics of Numbering Systems

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 Significant Digits
Binary: 11101101

Most significant digit Least significant digit

Hexadecimal: 1D63A7A

Most significant digit Least significant digit

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 Binary Number System
• Also called the “Base 2 system”
• The binary number system is used to model the
series of electrical signals computers use to
represent information
• 0 represents the no voltage or an off state
• 1 represents the presence of voltage or an
on state

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Binary Numbering Scale
Base 2 Base 10 Positional
Power
Number Equivalent Value

000 0 20 1
001 1 21 2
010 2 22 4
011 3 23 8
100 4 24 16
101 5 25 32
110 6 26 64
111 7 27 128
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 Decimal to Binary Conversion
• The easiest way to convert a decimal number to its
binary equivalent is to use the Division Algorithm
• This method repeatedly divides a decimal number by
2 and records the quotient and remainder
– The remainder digits (a sequence of zeros and ones) form
the binary equivalent in least significant to most
significant digit sequence

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 Division Algorithm
Convert 67 to its binary equivalent:
6710 = x2
Step 1: 67 / 2 = 33 R 1 Divide 67 by 2. Record quotient in next row

Step 2: 33 / 2 = 16 R 1 Again divide by 2; record quotient in next row

Step 3: 16 / 2 = 8 R 0 Repeat again

Step 4: 8 / 2 = 4 R 0 Repeat again

Step 5: 4 / 2 = 2 R 0 Repeat again

Step 6: 2 / 2 = 1 R 0 Repeat again

Step 7: 1 / 2 = 0 R 1 STOP when quotient equals 0

1 0 0 0 0 1 12
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 Binary to Decimal Conversion
• The easiest method for converting a binary
number to its decimal equivalent is to use the
Multiplication Algorithm
• Multiply the binary digits by increasing powers
of two, starting from the right
• Then, to find the decimal number equivalent,
sum those products

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Convert (10101101)2 to its decimal equivalent:

Binary 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1

Positional Values x x x x x x x x
2 7 26 25 24 23 22 21 20
Products 128 + 32 + 8 + 4 + 1

17310

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 Octal Number System
• Also known as the Base 8 System
• Uses digits 0 - 7
• Readily converts to binary
• Groups of three (binary) digits can be used to
represent each octal digit
• Also uses multiplication and division
algorithms for conversion to and from base 10

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 Decimal to Octal Conversion
Convert 42710 to its octal equivalent:

427 / 8 = 53 R3 Divide by 8; R is LSD

53 / 8 = 6 R5 Divide Q by 8; R is next digit
6 / 8 = 0 R6 Repeat until Q = 0

6538

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 Octal to Decimal Conversion

Convert 6538 to its decimal equivalent:

Octal Digits 6 5 3
x x x
Positional Values
82 81 80
Products 384 + 40 + 3

42710

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 Hexadecimal Number System
• Base 16 system
• Uses digits 0-9 &
letters A,B,C,D,E,F
• Groups of four bits
represent each
base 16 digit

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 Decimal to Hexadecimal Conversion
Convert 83010 to its hexadecimal equivalent:

830 / 16 = 51 R14
51 / 16 = 3 R3 = E in Hex

3 / 16 = 0 R3

33E16

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 Hexadecimal to Decimal Conversion
Convert 3B4F16 to its decimal equivalent:

Hex Digits
3 B 4 F
x x x x
Positional Values
163 162 161 160
Products 12288 +2816 + 64 +15

1518310

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 assignment
• 1. 300 to binary – octal - hexadecimal
• 2. 500 to binary – octal - hexadecimal
• 3. 870 to binary – octal - hexadecimal
• 4. 999 to binary – octal - hexadecimal
• 5. 1345 to binary – octal - hexadecimal

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• Binary - Decimal
• 1. 111000010
• 2. 1000010100
• 3. 1101111000
• Octal – decimal
• 1. 702
• 2. 1024
• 3. 1570
• Hexadecimal – decimal
• 1. 1C2
• 2. 214
• 3. 378

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