Conversions

Conversions

Conversions are the process in which one number system is converted to another, for example deanry to binary.

The two conversion methods mainly used are the Place value method and the Repeated division method, however the repeated divsion method only works when converting denary to any other number base

Binary to Denary

Converting binary to denary is done using the place value method, to do this you need to know the binary number system.

To convert using the place value method you write out your binary number and starting from the far right digit, substitute its corresponding denary value in if the binary number is a 1 and don't substitute it in if it's a 0.

Then add up all of the denary values and you will have the converted denary value.

For example:

Column Value 16 8 4 2 1

Binary Number 1 0 1 0 1

You would then add up the denary numbers that were substituted.

So 10101 represents 16+4+1=21 so your denary value would be 21.

Denary to Binary

Place Value Method:

In order to convert denary to binary with the place value method you need to split your denary number up into the binary system values that add up to total it, starting with the largest value that wouldn't cause the total to exceed the denary number

For example 50 would be broken down into 32,16 and 2, 64 isn't used even though its a larger value as it would cause the total to exceed 50.

You would then starting from the left place 1's and 0's in the appropriate columns for the used and unused numbers.

Column Value 32 16 8 4 2 1

Binary Number 1. 1. 0 0 1 0

Therefore the denary number 50 when converted to binary would read 110010.

Repeated Division Method: The repeated division method for denary to binary is done by taking the denary number you wish to convert and repeatedly dividing it by 2 as binary is base 2.

When you divide the denary number by 2 you write down the result and the remainder until the result is 0. The final 1 and the remainders are read starting from the bottom and going up.

Using 50 as an example again

50÷2 = 25 remainder 0

25÷2 = 12 remainder 1

12÷2 = 6 remainder 0

6÷2 = 3 remainder 0

3÷2 = 1 remainder 1

We then read the binary number bottom to top including the last 1 (the one we got as a result of 3÷2) which gives us a final answer of 110010.