US 9010: Number Bases and

Measurement Units
2.1 The Decimal Number System
and the Binary Number System
Scope
2.1 The Decimal Number System and the Binary
Number System

2.2 Expressing Size and Magnitude

2.3 The Effect of Error in Calculations

The Binary Number System

The binary number system is a method of representing numbers that has 2 as its
base and uses only the digits 0 and 1. Each successive digit represents a power of
2. For example, 10011 represents (1 × 24) + (0 × 23) + (0 × 22) + (1 × 21) + (1 × 20),
or 16 + 0 + 0 + 2 + 1, or 19.
The Binary Number System (Example)
The Decimal Number System

The decimal number system refers to the numbers we use every day, based on
10 digits (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9).
Converting from Binary to Decimal

Step 1

• List the powers of two from right to left. Start at 20, evaluating
it as "1". Increment the exponent by one for each power. Stop
when the amount of elements in the list is equal to the
amount of digits in the binary number. The example number,
10011011, have eight digits, so the list, to eight elements,
would look like this: 128, 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1
Converting from Binary to Decimal

Step 2

• Write first the binary number below the list.

Converting from Binary to Decimal
Step 3

• Draw lines, starting from the right, connecting each consecutive digit of
the binary number to the power of two that is next in the list above it.
Begin by drawing a line from the first digit of the binary number to the
first power of two in the list above it. Then, draw a line from the second
digit of the binary number to the second power of two in the list. Continue
connecting each digit with its corresponding power of two.
Converting from Binary to Decimal

Step 4

• Move through each digit of the binary number. If the digit is a

1, write its corresponding power of two below the line, under
the digit. If the digit is a 0, write a 0 below the line, under the
digit.
Converting from Binary to Decimal

Step 5

• Add the numbers written below the line. The sum should be 155. This is
the decimal equivalent of the binary number 10011011. Or, written with
base subscripts: 100110112 = 15510
Converting from Decimal to Binary
Step Action
1 List the powers of two in a "base 2 table" from right to left. Start at 2 0, evaluating it as "1".
Increment the exponent by one for each power. The list, to ten elements, would look like this:
512, 256, 128, 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1

2 What is the greatest power of two that will fit into 156? Since 128 fits, write a 1 for the leftmost
binary digit, and subtract 128 from your decimal number, 156. You now have 28.

3 Move to the next lower power of two. Can 64 fit into 28? No, so write a 0 for the next binary digit
to the right

4 Can 32 fit into 28? No, so write a 0

5 Can 16 fit into 28? Yes, so write a 1, and subtract 16 from 28. You now have 12
Converting from Decimal to Binary
Step Action
6 Can 8 fit into 12? Yes, so write a 1, and subtract 8 from 12. You now have 4.

7 Can 4 (power of two) fit into 4 (working decimal)? Yes, so write a 1, and subtract 4
from 4. You have 0

8 Can 2 fit into 0? No, so write a 0.

9 Can 1 fit into 0? No, so write a 0

10 Since there are no more powers of two in the list, you are done. You should have
10011100. This is the binary equivalent of the decimal number 156. Or, written with
base subscripts: 15610 = 100111002
Basic Addition in Binary System

26 101
 

+ 36 +101
1010
2.2 Expressing Size and Magnitude
Prefixes, Symbols, Factors and Powers of 10
Prefix Symbol Factor Power of 10

Exa E 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 18

Peta P 1,000,000,000,000,000 15

Tera T 1,000,000,000,000 12

Giga G 1,000,000,000 9

Mega M 1,000,000 6

Kilo K 1,000 3

Hecto H 100 2

Deka Da 10 1

Deci D 0.1 -1

Centi C 0.01 -2

Milli M 0.001 -3

Micro µ 0.000001 -6

Nano N 0.000000001 -9

Pico P 0.000000000001 -12

Femto F 0.000000000000001 -15

Atto A 0.000000000000000001 -18

SI Systems
Quantity Name of base SI unit Symbol

Length metre (meter) M

Mass kilogram Kg

Time second S

Electric current ampere A

Thermodynamic temperature Kelvin K

Amount of substance mole Mol

Luminous intensity candela Cd

Most Important Relationships in SI

1
1 millime tre = me tre  1 me tre = 1000 millime tre
1000
1
1 kilogra m = 1000 gra ms  1 gra m = kilogra m
1000
1
1 ce ntime tre = m e tre  1 me tre = 100 ce ntime tre s
100
1
1 m illime tre = litre  1 litre = 1000 m illilitre s
1000

a nd

1 cm 2 = 1 millilitre
1000kg = 1 tonne
Metric and Imperial System

The metric system is an international decimalised system of

measurement.

The imperial system is a system of weights and measures originally

developed in England. It is similar but not always the same as US
standard units.
Metric and Imperial System
Imperial System SI System

Length conversion

Inch 2.54 cm

Foot 30.48 centimeters

Yard 0.91 meters

Mile 1.61 kilometers

Weight conversion

Ounce 28.35 grams

Pound 0.45 kilograms

UK ton (2240 pounds) 1.02 metric tons
US ton (2000 pounds) 0.91 metric tons
2.3 The Effect of Error in Calculations
Rational and Irrational Number Systems

Rational numbers are all numbers that can be represented as a

ratio (a/b) of two numbers.

Irrational numbers are numbers that cannot be represented as a

ratio of two whole numbers.
Round-off Errors

A round-off error, also called rounding error, is the difference between the calculated
approximation of a number and its exact mathematical value
Approximations and Estimations
o Most adults are between 1.5 and 1.8 metres tall.
o The length of an adult pace is about 1 metre.
o It takes about 15 minutes to walk one kilometre.
o The height of a standard door is about 2 metres.
o The mass of a family car is about one tonne (1,000kg).
o The mass of a bag of sugar is about 1kg.
o The volume of a normal tin of drink is about 330cm2.
o A teaspoon holds about 5ml of liquid.
Example