Computing

Unit 3: Data Representation

10 Base (Denary) - How humans understand number!

Explanation: Think back to when you were in primary school. You learnt to organise numbers in multiples of
ten’s.

Task: Complete the table below:

Number T H T U
146 0 1 4 6
3 0 0 0 3
5 0 0 0 5
24 0 0 2 4
65 0 0 6 5
93 0 0 9 3
131 0 1 3 1
179 0 1 7 9
255 0 2 5 5

2 Base (Binary) - How computers understand number!

Explanation: Binary is the language computers understand. Computers only work with values of 1 and 0.
The reason for this is computers work on circuit boards where there is either high voltage (1) or low voltage
(0).

Task: Complete the table below:

Number 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
146 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0
3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
5 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
24 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
65 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
93 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1
131 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
184 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0
255 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

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 Computing
Unit 3: Data Representation

16 Base (Hexadecimal) – Used as a shorthand notation for binary number patterns!

Explanation: Converting denary numbers into hexadecimal.

Example: converting the number 146 into hexadecimal

Step 1: First convert the denary number 146 into binary ( 10010010 ).
Step 2: Then divide the byte i.e. 8 bits, into two nibbles i.e. 4 bits ( 1001 | 0010 ).
Step 3: Use the conversion table 2 to find out the hexadecimal ( 1001 = 9 and 0010= 2 ).
Step 4: Put the answers together ( 92 ).

Example: converting E3 hexadecimal into a number

Step 1: First start with the two characters E and 3.
Step 2: Using the conversion table 2 work out the binary for E ( 1110 ) and for 3 ( 0011 ).
Step 3: Put these together ( 11100011 ).
Step 4: Work out what the denary number using the binary ( 128+64+32+2+1 = 227 )

Task: Complete the table below:

Number 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1 Hexadecimal

146 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 92
146 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 92
3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 03
5 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 05
16 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 10
65 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 41
97 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 61
109 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 6D
184 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 B8
227 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 E3

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 Computing
Unit 3: Data Representation

ASCII – American Standard Code for Information Interchange

Explanation: Uses 7 bits of a byte to represent 128 characters that humans can use to represent
numbers and letters.

Task: Complete the table below:

Number 64 32 16 8 4 2 1 ASCII
67 1 0 0 0 0 1 1
111 1 1 0 1 1 1 1
109 1 1 0 1 1 0 1
112 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
117 1 1 1 0 1 0 1
116 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 t
105 1 1 0 1 0 0 1
110 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 n
103 1 1 0 0 1 1 1
33 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 !

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Computing
Unit 3: Data Representation

USE FOR YOUR WORKING OUT