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Digital Circuits - Number Systems
If base or radix of a number system is ‘r’, then the numbers present in that number system are ranging from zero to r-1. The total numbers present in that number system is ‘r’. So, we will get various number systems, by choosing the values of radix as greater than or equal to two.
In this chapter, let us discuss about the popular number systems and how to represent a number in the respective number system. The following number systems are the most commonly used.
- Decimal Number system
- Binary Number system
- Octal Number system
- Hexadecimal Number system
Decimal Number System
The base or radix of Decimal number system is 10. So, the numbers ranging from 0 to 9 are used in this number system. The part of the number that lies to the left of the decimal point is known as integer part. Similarly, the part of the number that lies to the right of the decimal point is known as fractional part.
In this number system, the successive positions to the left of the decimal point having weights of 100, 101, 102, 103 and so on. Similarly, the successive positions to the right of the decimal point having weights of 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 and so on. That means, each position has specific weight, which is power of base 10
Example
Consider the decimal number 1358.246. Integer part of this number is 1358 and fractional part of this number is 0.246. The digits 8, 5, 3 and 1 have weights of 100, 101, 102 and 103 respectively. Similarly, the digits 2, 4 and 6 have weights of 10-1, 10-2 and 10-3 respectively.
Mathematically, we can write it as
1358.246 = (1 × 103) + (3 × 102) + (5 × 101) + (8 × 100) + (2 × 10-1) +
(4 × 10-2) + (6 × 10-3)
After simplifying the right hand side terms, we will get the decimal number, which is on left hand side.
Binary Number System
All digital circuits and systems use this binary number system. The base or radix of this number system is 2. So, the numbers 0 and 1 are used in this number system.
The part of the number, which lies to the left of the binary point is known as integer part. Similarly, the part of the number, which lies to the right of the binary point is known as fractional part.
In this number system, the successive positions to the left of the binary point having weights of 20, 21, 22, 23 and so on. Similarly, the successive positions to the right of the binary point having weights of 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 and so on. That means, each position has specific weight, which is power of base 2.
Example
Consider the binary number 1101.011. Integer part of this number is 1101 and fractional part of this number is 0.011. The digits 1, 0, 1 and 1 of integer part have weights of 20, 21, 22, 23 respectively. Similarly, the digits 0, 1 and 1 of fractional part have weights of 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 respectively.
Mathematically, we can write it as
1101.011 = (1 × 23) + (1 × 22) + (0 × 21) + (1 × 20) + (0 × 2-1) +
(1 × 2-2) + (1 × 2-3)
After simplifying the right hand side terms, we will get a decimal number, which is an equivalent of binary number on left hand side.
Octal Number System
The base or radix of octal number system is 8. So, the numbers ranging from 0 to 7 are used in this number system. The part of the number that lies to the left of the octal point is known as integer part. Similarly, the part of the number that lies to the right of the octal point is known as fractional part.
In this number system, the successive positions to the left of the octal point having weights of 80, 81, 82, 83 and so on. Similarly, the successive positions to the right of the octal point having weights of 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 and so on. That means, each position has specific weight, which is power of base 8.
Example
Consider the octal number 1457.236. Integer part of this number is 1457 and fractional part of this number is 0.236. The digits 7, 5, 4 and 1 have weights of 80, 81, 82 and 83 respectively. Similarly, the digits 2, 3 and 6 have weights of 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 respectively.
Mathematically, we can write it as
1457.236 = (1 × 83) + (4 × 82) + (5 × 81) + (7 × 80) + (2 × 8-1) +
(3 × 8-2) + (6 × 8-3)
After simplifying the right hand side terms, we will get a decimal number, which is an equivalent of octal number on left hand side.
Hexadecimal Number System
The base or radix of Hexa-decimal number system is 16. So, the numbers ranging from 0 to 9 and the letters from A to F are used in this number system. The decimal equivalent of Hexa-decimal digits from A to F are 10 to 15.
The part of the number, which lies to the left of the hexadecimal point is known as integer part. Similarly, the part of the number, which lies to the right of the Hexa-decimal point is known as fractional part.
In this number system, the successive positions to the left of the Hexa-decimal point having weights of 160, 161, 162, 163 and so on. Similarly, the successive positions to the right of the Hexa-decimal point having weights of 16-1, 16-2, 16-3 and so on. That means, each position has specific weight, which is power of base 16.
Example
Consider the Hexa-decimal number 1A05.2C4. Integer part of this number is 1A05 and fractional part of this number is 0.2C4. The digits 5, 0, A and 1 have weights of 160, 161, 162 and 163 respectively. Similarly, the digits 2, C and 4 have weights of 16-1, 16-2 and 16-3 respectively.
Mathematically, we can write it as
1A05.2C4 = (1 × 163) + (10 × 162) + (0 × 161) + (5 × 160) + (2 × 16-1) +
(12 × 16-2) + (4 × 16-3)
After simplifying the right hand side terms, we will get a decimal number, which is an equivalent of Hexa-decimal number on left hand side.