Kyawt Kay Khaing Phyoe

University of the People

Assignment Unit 2

Assignment: Number System Conversions and Coding Representations

In a technology-driven work environment, the ability to convert between different number

systems is essential for accurate data encoding, device communication, and low-level

programming tasks. For this assignment, I was asked to convert a decimal number derived

from my birthdate into its binary, octal, and hexadecimal equivalents. My birthdate is 19-09-

1999, so the first three digits are 190. This number will be used to demonstrate each

conversion method with step-by-step explanations.

To convert 190 from decimal to binary, I used successive division by 2. First, 190 ÷ 2 = 95

remainder 0. Next, 95 ÷ 2 = 47 remainder 1. Continuing the process: 47 ÷ 2 = 23 remainder 1,

23 ÷ 2 = 11 remainder 1, 11 ÷ 2 = 5 remainder 1, 5 ÷ 2 = 2 remainder 1, 2 ÷ 2 = 1 remainder

0, and 1 ÷ 2 = 0 remainder 1. Reading the remainders from bottom to top gives 10111110₂.

Therefore, the binary equivalent of 190 is 10111110.

For the octal conversion, I divided 190 repeatedly by 8. First, 190 ÷ 8 = 23 remainder 6. Then

23 ÷ 8 = 2 remainder 7. Finally, 2 ÷ 8 = 0 remainder 2. Reading the remainders from bottom

to top gives 276₈. This demonstrates the same successive division technique but tailored to

the base-8 system.

To convert 190 to hexadecimal, I divided by 16. First, 190 ÷ 16 = 11 remainder 14. In

hexadecimal, 11 becomes B and 14 becomes E. Then 11 ÷ 16 = 0 remainder 11, which again

corresponds to B. Reading the results from bottom to top gives BE₁₆. Hexadecimal is widely

used in computing because its 4-bit grouping aligns directly with binary values, making it

efficient for memory addressing and system diagnostics.

Being proficient in converting between number systems is important in many technical roles.

One practical use case is in embedded systems programming, where memory addresses and

machine instructions are often represented in hexadecimal. Engineers must interpret and

manipulate these values directly. Another essential area is digital circuit design, where binary

and octal values are used to configure hardware registers, microcontroller ports, and

communication protocols. Incorrect conversions can lead to device failures, misconfigured

hardware, or corrupted data transmission.

In addition to performing conversions, my role in the scenario includes selecting an

appropriate coding representation for communication between systems. Three common

representations include ASCII, Unicode, and Gray code. ASCII is a 7-bit alphanumeric code

primarily used to represent English characters. It is efficient and compact but limited in

character variety. Unicode, on the other hand, supports over 100,000 characters across global

languages. It ensures compatibility in modern multilingual applications but requires more

storage. Gray code is non-weighted and differs from ASCII and Unicode because it is

designed for hardware reliability. Only one bit changes at a time, reducing errors in rotary

encoders and digital sensors.

For this project, which involves communicating data between software systems and digital

devices, Unicode would be the most appropriate choice if the data includes text, especially

from multiple languages. It ensures universal compatibility and prevents misinterpretation of

characters. ASCII could be used if the system only exchanges basic English text, but Unicode

provides greater flexibility and future-proofing. Gray code, while highly reliable, is suitable

only for hardware position sensing and not for general data communication.

Choosing the correct coding representation is crucial. For example, if a multinational

application incorrectly used ASCII instead of Unicode, characters from languages such as

Japanese or Arabic would display incorrectly, causing data loss, user confusion, and system
malfunction. Such an error could impact user interfaces, customer data, and even contractual

obligations. Therefore, selecting the right code is essential for accuracy, compatibility, and

project success.

References

[Link], T. (2016). Digital electronics 1: Combinational logic circuits. John Wiley & Sons,

Incorporated.

2. Robertson, S. (2020). Bc, before computers: On information technology from writing to the age of

digital data. Open Book Publishers.

3. The Organic Chemistry Tutor. (2021, January 15). Number Systems Introduction - Decimal, binary,

octal & Hexadecimal [Video]. YouTube.

4. ALL ABOUT ELECTRONICS. (2021, March 24). Binary Number System: Counting in the binary

number system | Binary to decimal conversion [Video]. YouTube.

5. ALL ABOUT ELECTRONICS. (2021, March 30). Decimal to Binary Conversion Explained (with

Solved Examples) [Video]. YouTube.

6. ALL ABOUT ELECTRONICS. (2021, July 27). Octal and hexadecimal number system explained

[Video]. YouTube.

7. ALL ABOUT ELECTRONICS. (2021, August 2). Binary codes: Classification of binary codes

explained [Video]. YouTube.

8. Info Pack. (2020, April 8). Number System Conversion Techniques |Very Easy|Fast |Decimal |

Binary|Octal |Hexadecimal| [Video]. YouTube.