There is a relationship between binary, octal, and hexadecimal numbers. Binary is base 2, octal is base 8(23) and hexadecimal is base 16(24). Let's convert the binary number 101101011010111 to a hexadecimal number.
Binary -> hexadecimal
101101011010111
Starting at the rightmost digit, split the number into groups of 4
101 1010 1101 0111
- Each of these groups has 4 binary digits that can range from 0 -15. This is exactly the value of one hexadecimal digit, so match each group of four bits with one hexadecimal digit.
Binary Number Groups |
Hexadecimal Equivalent |
101 |
5 |
1010 |
A |
1101 |
D |
0111 |
7 |
|
So our binary number is equivalent to 5AD716. Going from hexadecimal reverses the procedure so each hexadecimal digit expands to 4 bits.
The same process occurs between octal and binary using only 3 bits.
Try the following conversions for practice:
10 110 1012 -> ___ ____ ____8
3F116 -> _____ _____ _____2
3528 -> _____ _____ _____2
482 ->____________2
482 -> ___________8
482 -> ________16
100012
-> _______10
57768
-> _______10
3DB16
-> _______10
110 111 0102
-> ___ ____ ____8
1011 0010 11112
-> ___ ____ ____16
3FA16
-> _____ ______ ______2
7128
-> ______ ______ ______2
The answers appear at the end of this lesson.