2.3 Different Types of Number Systems

Number Systems Decimal Binary Octal Hexadecimal Base value ( , , , , , , , , , ) Base value ( , ) Base value ( , , , , , , , ) Base value ( , , , , , , , , , ,A,B,C,D,E,F) Figure . . Number Systems Computer memory (Main Memory and Secondary Storage)is normally represented in terms of KiloByte (KB) or MegaByte (MB). In decimal system, Kilo represents , that is , .

In binary system, KiloByte represents bytes that is . The following table represents the various memory sizes: A numbering system is a way of representing numbers. The most commonly used numbering system in real life is Decimal number system. Other number systems are Binary, Octal, Hexadecimal number system.

Each number system is uniquely identified by its base value or radix . Radix or base is the count of number of digits in each number system. Radix or base is the general idea behind positional numbering system. .

. Decimal Number System It consists of , , , , , , , , , ( digits). It is the oldest and most popular number system used in our day to day life. In the positional number system, each decimal digit is weighed relative to its position in the number.

This means that each digit in the number is multiplied by raised to a power corresponding to that digit’s position. Example ( ) = 1x10 + 2x10 + 3x10 = + + = ( ) . . Binary Number System There are only two digits in the Binary system, namely, and .

The numbers in the binary system are represented to the base and the positional multipliers are the powers of . The left most bit in the binary number is called as the M ost S ignificant B it (MSB) and it has the largest positional weight. The right most bit is the L east S ignificant B it (LSB) and has the smallest positional weight.