Base System
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Base System
Exercise
In the base system 10, we use 10 digits. They are 0, 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. There is no 10 in the decimal system.
Similarly, In the base system of 7, we use digits 0 to 6
but 7 won't exist. To write 7 in base system 7, we use 10.
Converting a decimal system in to any base system:
Suppose for example, We have to convert (134)10 ( 134 )
10 to base 7. Then the following process is to be
employed.
So (134)10 ( 134 ) 10 = (251)7 ( 251 ) 7
We can easily convert a number in any base other than
10 to base system 10.
(251)7 ( 251 ) 7 = 2×72+5×7+1 2 × 7 2 + 5 × 7 + 1 = (134)10
( 134 ) 10
Find the following table in various base systems:
Solved Examples
1. In base 7, a number is written only using the digits 0,
1, 2, .....6. The number 135 in base 7 is 1 x 72 7 2 + 3 x 7 +
5 = 75 in base 10. What is the sum of the base 7 numbers
1234 and 6543 in base 7.
a. 11110
b. 12010
c. 13010
d. 41220
Answer: A
Explanation:
In base 7 there is no 7. So to write 7 we use 10. for 8 we
use 11...... for 13 we use 16, for 14 we use 20 and so on.
So from the column d, 4 + 3 = 7 = 10, we write 0 and 1
carried over. now 1 + 3 + 4 = 8 = 11, then we write 1 and
1 carried over. again 1 + 2 + 5 = 8 = 11 and so on
2. If in a certain number system the difference of 5333
and 555 is 4445 then the sum of the numbers 5333 and
555 is
a. 1221
b. 5221
c. 7221
d. 6221
Answer: D
Explanation:
Suppose, We want to find 225 - 89 in decimal system.
As 9 is bigger than 5, we borrow 1 from the immediate
left digit so 5 becomes 15.
In base system 7 we borrow 1 means, we are borrowing
7. So 10 - 5 = 5. So this substraction has done in base 7.
If we want to add, we follow the same procedure. But
in decimal system 3 + 5 = 8, but
(8)10=(11)7 ( 8 ) 10 = ( 11 ) 7 . We write 1 and take 1 as
carry over. Now 1 + 3 + 5 = 9 but
(9)10=(12)7 ( 9 ) 10 = ( 12 ) 7 , so we write 2 and take 1
carry over. the final solution looks as below
3. 53 x 22 = 1276 then (4221)n=()10? ( 4221 ) n = ( ) 10 ? .
a. 1275
b. 3897
c. 4589
d. 5469
Answer: B
Explanation:
As we don't know the base system here we take the base
as n. So 53 in base n can be written as 5n+3, and 22 as
2n+2 and 1276 as n3+2n2+7n+6 n 3 + 2 n 2 + 7 n + 6
⇒ ⇒ (5n + 3)(2n + 2) = n3+2n2+7n+6 n 3 + 2 n 2 + 7 n + 6
⇒ ⇒ 10n2+16n+6=n3+2n2+7n+6 10 n 2 + 16 n + 6 = n 3 +
2n2+7n+6
⇒ ⇒ n3−8n2−9n=0 n 3 − 8 n 2 − 9 n = 0
⇒ ⇒ n(n2−8n−9)=0 n ( n 2 − 8 n − 9 ) = 0
⇒ ⇒ (n + 1)(n - 9) = 0
So n = 9
(4221)9=4×93+2×92+2×9+1 ( 4221 ) 9 = 4 × 9 3 + 2 × 9 2 + 2
×9+1
= 3716 + 162 + 18 + 1 = 3897
4. On planet Jupiter the people use a certain number
system to the base ‘n’ (n > 2), Jerk, a resident of the
planet, one day received twice his daily wage because
the digits of this wage, which was a 2 digit number,
were reversed. If the value of ‘n’ is the least possible
value there the decimal representation of the difference
between Jerk’s correct wage for the day is
a. 5
b. 8
c. 9
d. 10
Answer: B
Explanation:
Let the base of the number system be n and the two
digit number be ab
given 2(ab)n = (ba)n
⇒ ⇒ nb + a = 2na + 2b
⇒ ⇒ a(2n - 1) = b(n - 2)
⇒ab=n−22n−1 ⇒ a b = n − 2 2 n − 1
Now the maximum possible value of a or b is (n - 1)
(base n) for n = 3 we get
ab=15 a b = 1 5 = which is not possible as in base 3, 5
won't exist.
Similarly, for n = 4
but for n = 5
We get ab=39i.e.13 a b = 3 9 i . e . 1 3
a = 1, b = 3 is the only number possible when n is the
least possible.
The correct wage = (13)5=(8)10 ( 13 ) 5 = ( 8 ) 10
The actual wage paid = (31)5=(16)10 ( 31 ) 5 = ( 16 ) 10
So difference = 8
5. I take a four-digit number and subtract from it the
sum of its digits. In the result I strike off one of the
digits and the remaining three digits of the result are 2,
4 and 6 (not necessarily in that order). Find the digit
struck off by me
a. 2
b. 4
c. 6
d. 8
Answer: C
Explanation:
Let us assume the four digit number as wxyz. Then in
base system 10 it can written as 1000w + 100x + 10y + z.
Now given that,
wxyz = 1000w + 100x + 10y + z - (w + x + y + z) = 999w +
99x + 9y which is a multiple of 9
Hence the sum of digits must be a multiple of 9.
Hence 2 + 4 + 6 + x is equal to either 9, 18, 27 ...
But if the sum is equal to 9 then x is negative
[Link] x = 6.
6. Once upon a time in ancient times there was a king
who was very found of wines. He had a huge cellar,
which had 1000 different varieties of wine all in
different caskets (1000 caskets in all). In the adjoining
kingdom there was a queen who was envious of the
king’s huge wine collection. After some time when she
could not bear it any more she conspired to kill him by
poisoning all his wine caskets. So she sent one sentry to
poison all the caskets, but no sooner had the sentry
poisoned only one wine casket, he was caught and
killed by the Royal guards. Now the king had a major
problem in his hand so as to identify the poisonous
casket, which he gave to the Minister. But the situation
had two peculiarities.
I: Any one who takes even one drop from the
poisonous casket will die.
II: He will die only after one month.
The king also handed over few prisoners to the Minister
as “taster” of those caskets, as their lives was of little
value.
If the Minister is allowed only 1 month to find out the
poisonous casket, what is the minimum number of
prisoners he should use as “tasters”?
a. 10
b. 500
c. 999
d. 1000
Answer: A
Explanation:
Let there be only 8 caskets. Each of the prisoners drinks
wine from whichever casket has a 1 in his place. If he
does not drink there is a 0. For example, Prisoner 1
tastes from Casket 1, 4, 5, 6 as the respective columns
have 1's. The testing pattern by all the 8 prisoners
P1,P2,P3 P 1 , P 2 , P 3 can be represented as
Casket
numberP1P2P311112001301041005110610170118000
Casket number P 1 P 2 P 3 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 1 3 0 1 0 4 1 0 0 5
110610170118000
So if all three die, Casket 1 is poisoned. If P3 dies, casket
2 is poisoned.
If P1 and P3 die ⇒ ⇒ casket 6 is poisoned and so on.
So, if there are 3 prisoners, we can differentiate upto 23
2 3 =8 caskets.
So for 1000 caskets [even 1024 caskets], we need only 10
prisoners as 210 2 10 = 1024
7. A three digit non-zero number 'abc' in base 5, when
converted to base 7, becomes 'cba'. Which of the
following is necessarily true?
a. a must be 2
b. c must be 2
c. b must be 0
d. both a and b
Answer: A
Explanation:
Given (abc)5=(cba)7 ( a b c ) 5 = ( c b a ) 7
or 25a + 5b + c = 49c + 7b + a
or 24a = 2b + 48c
or 12a = b + 24c
as abc is a 3 digit number in base 5, the possible values
for a, b and c are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 only.
The possible solutions of the above equation are:
(a, b, c) = (2, 0, 1) and (4, 0, 2) only
a can take value = 2 or 4
b can take value = 0 only
c can take value = 1 or 2 only.
So correct option 3.
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