Maths (/maths/) > Math Article (/maths/articles/) > Number System (/maths/number-system/)

Number System

The number system or the numeral system is the system of naming or representing
numbers. We know that a number is a mathematical value that helps to count or
measure objects and it helps in performing various mathematical calculations. There are
different types of number systems in Maths like decimal number system, binary number
system, octal number system, and hexadecimal number system. In this article, we are
going to learn what is a number system in Maths, different types, and conversion
procedures with many number system examples in detail. Also, check mathematics for
grade 12 ([Link] here.

What is Number System in Maths?

A number system is defined as a system of writing to express numbers. It is the
mathematical notation for representing numbers of a given set by using digits or other
symbols in a consistent manner. It provides a unique representation of every number
and represents the arithmetic and algebraic structure of the figures. It also allows us to
operate arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
:
 The value of any digit in a number can be determined by:

The digit

Its position in the number

The base of the number system

Before discussing the different types of number system examples, first, let us discuss
what is a number?

What is a Number?
A number is a mathematical value used for counting or measuring or labelling objects.
Numbers are used to performing arithmetic calculations. Examples of numbers are
natural numbers, whole numbers, rational and irrational numbers, etc. 0 is also a number
that represents a null value.

A number has many other variations such as even and odd numbers, prime and
composite numbers. Even and odd terms are used when a number is divisible by 2 or not,
whereas prime and composite differentiate between the numbers that have only two
factors and more than two factors, respectively.

In a number system, these numbers are used as digits. 0 and 1 are the most common
digits in the number system, that are used to represent binary numbers. On the other
hand, 0 to 9 digits are also used for other number systems. Let us learn here the types of
number systems.

Types of Number Systems

There are various types of number systems in mathematics. The four most common
number system types are:

1. Decimal number system (Base- 10)

2. Binary number system (Base- 2)

3. Octal number system (Base-8)

4. Hexadecimal number system (Base- 16)

Now, let us discuss the different types of number systems with examples.
:
 Decimal Number System (Base 10 Number System)
The decimal number system has a base of 10 because it uses ten digits from 0 to 9. In the
decimal number system, the positions successive to the left of the decimal point
represent units, tens, hundreds, thousands and so on. This system is expressed in decimal
numbers ([Link] Every position shows a particular power
of the base (10).

Example of Decimal Number System:

The decimal number 1457 consists of the digit 7 in the units position, 5 in the tens place, 4
in the hundreds position, and 1 in the thousands place whose value can be written as:

(1×103) + (4×102) + (5×101) + (7×100)

(1×1000) + (4×100) + (5×10) + (7×1)

1000 + 400 + 50 + 7

1457

Binary Number System (Base 2 Number System)

The base 2 number system is also known as the Binary number system
([Link] wherein, only two binary digits exist,
i.e., 0 and 1. Specifically, the usual base-2 is a radix of 2. The figures described under this
system are known as binary numbers which are the combination of 0 and 1. For example,
110101 is a binary number.

We can convert any system into binary and vice versa.

Example

Write (14)10 as a binary number.

Solution:
:
 Base 2 Number System Example

∴ (14)10 = 11102

Octal Number System (Base 8 Number System)

In the octal number system ([Link] the base
is 8 and it uses numbers from 0 to 7 to represent numbers. Octal numbers are commonly
used in computer applications. Converting an octal number to decimal is the same as
decimal conversion and is explained below using an example.

Example: Convert 2158 into decimal.

Solution:

2158 = 2 × 82 + 1 × 81 + 5 × 80

= 2 × 64 + 1 × 8 + 5 × 1

= 128 + 8 + 5

= 14110

Hexadecimal Number System (Base 16 Number System)

:
 In the hexadecimal system, numbers are written or represented with base 16. In the
hexadecimal system, the numbers are first represented just like in the decimal system,
i.e. from 0 to 9. Then, the numbers are represented using the alphabet from A to F. The
below-given table shows the representation of numbers in the hexadecimal number
system ([Link]

Hexadecimal 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F

Decimal 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Number System Chart

In the number system chart, the base values and the digits of different number systems
can be found. Below is the chart of the numeral system.

Number System Chart

Number System Conversion

Numbers can be represented in any of the number system categories like binary,
decimal, hexadecimal, etc. Also, any number which is represented in any of the number
system types can be easily converted to another. Check the detailed lesson on the
:
 conversions of number systems ([Link]
conversion/) to learn how to convert numbers in decimal to binary and vice versa,
hexadecimal to binary and vice versa, and octal to binary and vice versa using various
examples.

With the help of the different conversion procedures explained above, now let us discuss
in brief about the conversion of one number system to the other number system by
taking a random number.

Assume the number 349. Thus, the number 349 in different number systems is as follows:

The number 349 in the binary number system is 101011101

The number 349 in the decimal number system is 349.

The number 349 in the octal number system is 535.

The number 349 in the hexadecimal number system is 15D

Number System Solved Examples

Example 1:

Convert (1056)16 to an octal number.

Solution:

Given, 105616 is a hex number.

First we need to convert the given hexadecimal number into decimal number

(1056)16

= 1 × 163 + 0 × 162 + 5 × 161 + 6 × 160

= 4096 + 0 + 80 + 6

= (4182)10
:
 Now we will convert this decimal number to the required octal number by repetitively
dividing by 8.

8 4182 Remainder

8 522 6

8 65 2

8 8 1

8 1 0

0 1

Therefore, taking the value of the remainder from bottom to top, we get;

(4182)10 = (10126)8

Therefore,

(1056)16 = (10126)8

Example 2:

Convert (1001001100 ([Link] to a decimal number.

Solution:

(1001001100 ([Link]

= 1 × 29 + 0 × 28 + 0 × 27 + 1 × 26 + 0 × 25 + 0 × 24 + 1 × 23 + 1 × 22 + 0 × 21 + 0 × 20

= 512 + 64 + 8 + 4

= (588)10
:
 Example 3:

Convert 101012 into an octal number.

Solution:

Given,

101012 is the binary number

We can write the given binary number as,

010 101

Now as we know, in the octal number system,

010 → 2

101 → 5

Therefore, the required octal number is (25)8

Example 4:

Convert hexadecimal 2C to decimal number.

Solution:

We need to convert 2C16 into binary numbers first.

2C → 00101100 ([Link]

Now convert 00101100 ([Link] into a decimal number.

101100 = 1 × 25 + 0 × 24 + 1 × 23 + 1 × 22 + 0 × 21 + 0 × 20

= 32 + 8 + 4

= 44

Video Lesson on Numeral System

:
 6,727

Number System Questions

1. Convert (242)10 into hexadecimal. [Answer: (F2)16]

2. Convert 0.52 into an octal number. [Answer: 4121]

3. Subtract 11012 and 10102. [Answer: 0010]

4. Represent 5C6 in decimal. [Answer: 1478]

5. Represent binary number 1.1 in decimal. [Answer: 1.5]

Also Check: Binary Operations ([Link]

Computer Numeral System (Number System in Computers)

When we type any letter or word, the computer translates them into numbers since
computers can understand only numbers. A computer can understand only a few
symbols called digits and these symbols describe different values depending on the
position they hold in the number. In general, the binary number system is used in
computers. However, the octal, decimal and hexadecimal systems are also used
sometimes.
:
 More Topics Related to Number Systems

Number System for Class 9 NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Maths

([Link] Chapter 1- Number Systems
system-for-class-9/) ([Link]
class-9-maths/chapter-1-number-
systems/)

Important Questions Class 9 Maths Chapter Number System Class 9 Notes –

1 Number System Chapter 1 ([Link]
([Link] notes/cbse-class-9-maths-notes-
questions-class-9-maths-chapter-1- chapter-1-number-system/)
number-system/)

Frequently Asked Questions on Number System

Q1 What is Number System and its Types?

The number system is simply a system to represent or express numbers. There are
various types of number systems and the most commonly used ones are decimal
number system, binary number system, octal number system, and hexadecimal
number system.

Q2 Why is the Number System Important?

Definition([Link] Types([Link]
The number system helps to represent numbers in a small symbol set. Computers, in
general, use binary numbers 0 and 1 to keep the calculations simple and to keep the
amount of necessary circuitry less, which results in the least amount of space,
energy consumption and cost.

Q3 What is Base 1 Number System Called?

The base 1 number system is called the unary numeral system and is the simplest
numeral system to represent natural numbers.
:
 Q4 What is the equivalent binary number for the decimal number 43?

To find the equivalent binary number, we need to divide 43 by 2, until we get 0 as the
result. Therefore, (43)10 = 1010112

Q5 How to convert 308 into a decimal number?

308 = (3 × 81) + (0 × 80) = 24

Quiz on Number system

Put your understanding of this concept to test by

answering a few MCQs. Click ‘Start Quiz’ to begin!

Select the correct answer and click on the “Finish” button

Check your score and answers at the end of the quiz

Start Quiz

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