NUMBER BASES

Summary:

1. Number bases are different ways of writing down numbers.

2. The most common base system is base 10.

3. The digits of a number in any base are less than the base itself

4. The digits 10 and 11 are represented by t and e respectively in number bases

NOTE:

(i) Base 10 is called decimal base

(ii) Base 2 is called binary base

(iii) Base 3 is called trinary base

(iv) Base 8 is called octal base

EXAMPLES:

1. Convert the following to base ten

(i) 1011two (ii) 346 seven (iii)

2210 three

(iv)
2et twelve (v)
312⋅21four (vi)
0⋅12 six

solution

3 2 1 0
(i) 1011two = (1 × 2 ) + (0 × 2 ) + (1 × 2 ) + (1 × 2 )
= (1 × 8) + ( 0 × 4 ) + (1 × 2) + (1 × 1)
= 11ten

1
 2 1 0 −1 −2
( iv ) 312⋅21four = ( 3 × 4 ) + (1 × 4 ) + (2 × 4 ) + (2 × 4 ) + (1 × 4 )
1 1
= (3 × 16 ) + (1 × 4) + ( 2 × 1) + ( 2 × ) + (2 × )
4 16
1 1
= 54 + +
2 16
9
= 54 or 54⋅5625 ten
16 ten

CONVERTING FROM BASE TEN TO OTHER BASES

Summary:

(i) Divide the number repeatedly by the required bases

(ii) The remainder in reverse order gives the required number

EXAMPLES:

1. Convert 64 ten to base three

3 64 R
3 21 1
3 7 0
2 1

∴ 64 ten = 2101three

2. Convert 246 ten to base five

3. Convert 2101three to base seven

Hint: First convert 2101three to base ten

2
 3 2 1 0
2101three = (2 × 3 ) + (1 × 3 ) + (0 × 3 ) + (1 × 3 )
= 64ten
7 64 R
7 9 1
1 2

∴ 2101three = 121 seven

5. Find the value of n in the following equations:

(i)
45 n = 1112three (ii) 21 n = 19 ten (iii)
303 n = 410 six

(iv)
202 n = 37 nine (v) 112n + 304n = 421n

OPERATIONS WITH ANY BASE OTHER THAN 10

ADDITION:

If the sum of the digits exceeds the base, divide that sum by the base then write
down the remainder and carry the whole number.

EXAMPLES:

1. Workout the following leaving your answer in the base indicated

(i) 136 seven + 254 seven

(ii)
232 five + 344 five

(iii) 28⋅57 nine + 6⋅34 nine

3
Solution:

(i) 136seven
+¿ 254seven ¿ 423seven

(ii) 232five
+¿ 344five ¿ 1131five
( iii) 28⋅57 nine
+ 6⋅34nine
36⋅02nine

2. Workout 122three + 461 seven giving your answer in base five

Hint: First convert 122three and 461 seven to base ten and then finally express
the answer in the required base

2 1 0
122three = (1 × 3 ) + ( 2 × 3 ) + (2 × 3 ) = 17 ten
2 1 0
461 seven = ( 4 × 7 ) + (6 × 7 ) + (1 × 7 ) = 239 ten
⇒ 122 three + 461 seven= 17 ten + 239ten = 256 ten
5 256 R
5 51 1
5 10 1
2 0

4
 ∴ 122 three + 461 seven= 2011five

SUBTRACTION:

In case of borrowing the new value is the sum of the base and the digit which was
small.

EXAMPLES:

1. Workout the following leaving your answer in the base indicated

(i)
72eight − 43eight

(ii)
254 eight − 217 eight

(iii)
30⋅241 five − 14⋅143 five
Solution:

(i) 72eight
−¿ 43eight ¿ 27 eight

(ii) 254eight
−¿ 217eight ¿ 35eight

5
(iii) 30⋅241five
+ 14⋅143 five
14⋅043five

2. Workout 221 three− 101 two giving your answer in base four

Hint: First convert 221 three and 101two to base ten and then finally express
the answer in the required base

2 1 0
221 three = (2 × 3 ) + ( 2 × 3 ) + (1 × 3 ) = 25ten
2 1 0
101two = (1 × 2 ) + (0 × 2 ) + ( 1 × 2 ) = 5ten
⇒ 221 three − 101two= 25 ten − 5 ten = 20 ten
4 20 R
4 4 0
1 1

∴ 221three − 101two= 110 four

MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION

EXAMPLES:

1. Workout the following leaving your answer in the base indicated

(i)
152eight × 43eight

6
 (ii)
et5twelve × 8t twelve

(iii)
124 five × 32 five
Solution:

(i) 152eight
× 43eight ¿¿
¿ 476¿+650¿ 7176eight ¿

(ii) et5twelve
× 8ttwelve ¿¿
¿ 9t82¿+7te4¿ 88t02twelve ¿

(ii ) 124five
× 32five ¿¿
¿ 303¿+432¿ 10123five ¿

7
2. Workout 1011two× 12 three giving your answer in binary base

Hint: First convert 1011two and 12 three to base ten and then finally express
the answer in the required base
3 2 1 0
1011two = (1 × 2 ) + ( 0 × 2 ) + (1 × 2 ) + (1 × 2 ) = 11ten
1 0
12three = (1 × 3 ) + ( 2 × 3 ) = 5ten
⇒ 1011two× 12three= 11ten × 5 ten = 55ten

2 55 R

2 27 1

2 13 1
2 6 1
2 3 0
1 1

∴ 1011two × 12three = 110111two

3. Workout the following leaving your answer in the base indicated

(i)
2001three ÷ 12 three

(ii) 110111two÷ 101 two

Solution:

8
(i) Hint: First convert 2001 three and 12 three to base ten and then finally
express the answer in the required base

3 2 1 0
2001three = (2 × 3 ) + ( 0 × 3 ) + ( 0 × 3 ) + (1 × 3 ) = 55ten
1 0
12three = (1 × 3 ) + ( 2 × 3 ) = 5ten
⇒ 2001three ÷ 12 three= 55ten ÷ 5 ten = 11ten
3 11 R
3 3 2
1 0

∴ 2001 three÷ 12three= 102three

5 4 3 2 1 0
( ii) 110111two= (1 × 2 )+( 1 × 2 )+( 0 × 2 )+(1 × 2 )+(1 × 2 )+( 1 × 2 )
= 55ten
2 1 0
101two = (1 × 2 ) + (0 × 2 ) + ( 1 × 2 ) = 5ten
⇒ 110111two÷ 101 two= 55 ten ÷ 5 ten = 11 ten

2 11 R
2 5 1
2 2 1
1 0

∴ 110111two ÷ 101two= 1011two

9
EER:

1. Convert the following to base ten

(i) 2212 three (ii) 1011two (iii)

234 five

2. Express
0⋅24 six as a fraction in base ten

3. Express
45⋅3 six in base ten using point notation

4. Find the value of n if 45 n = 100001two

5. Find the value of n if 103n + 26 n = 131n

6. Convert 102three to binary base

7. Workout the following leaving your answer in the base indicated

(i)
152eight × 43eight

(ii)
et5twelve × 8t twelve

(iii)
2212 three ÷ 21 three

8. Arrange the following numbers

36 eight , 302 four and 202 three in
ascending order

10
11