CHAPTER 1 NUMBER BASES

Number in Base Two

Number in Base Eight
Number in Base Five

NUMBER IN BASES TWO (2)

1. Number written by using only digits 0 and 1.

Example:
1012, 11012, 10112...

2. Number in base two starts with:

02 12 102 112 1002 1012

3. The place value of each digit for the numbers in base two is the power of two,
starting with the right most digit having a place value of 20:

24 23 22 21 20
Sixteen Eight Four Two One

Example:
Number in base two: 1 0 1 1 0

24 23 22 21 20

Value of the underlined digit = 1 x 22 = 1 x 4 = 410

NUMBER IN BASES EIGHT (8)

1. Number written by using only digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

Example:
3128, 6478, 5228

2. Number in base two starts with:

08 18 28 78 108 118 128 178 208 218 228 238
248 258 268 278 308
3. The place value of each digit for the numbers in base eight is the power of eight,
starting with the right most digit having a place value of 80:

83 82 81 80
Five hundred and Sixty four Eight One
twelve

Example:
Number in base two: 4 3 2

82 81 80

Value of the underlined digit = 3 x 81 = 3 x 8 = 2410

NUMBER IN BASES FIVE (5)

1. Number written by using only digits 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Example:
2315, 4335, 1345...

2. Number in base two starts with:

05 15 25 35 45 105 115 125 135 145 205 215 225
235 245 305 315 325 335

3. The place value of each digit for the numbers in base five is the power of five, starting
with the right most digit having a place value of 50:

53 52 51 50
Hundred and twenty Twenty five Five One
five

Example:
Number in base two: 3 1 2

52 51 50

Value of the underlined digit = 3 x 52 = 3 x 25 = 7510

Exercise:
Level 1
State the value, in base ten, of the underlined digit in each of the following numbers.
i. 10110012

ii. 47618

iii. 201008

iv. 304215

Level 1
Find the value of the digit 6, in base ten, in the number 46358

EXPANDED NOTATION

Example
101102 = (1 x 24) + (0 x 23) + (1 x 22) + (1 x 21) + (0 x 20)
= 1 x 24 + 1 x 22 + 1 x 21 (Expanded Notation)

Exercise
Level 1
i. 73658 =

ii. 420315 =
Level 3
Given that 10001002 = 2a (2b + 1), where a and b are two positive integers, find the values
of a and b.

Level 3
Given that 3pq08 = 8(3 x 82 + 7 x 8 + 6), where p and q are two positive integers, find the
values of p and q.

CONVERTING NUMBER BASES (TWO, EIGHT AND FIVE) TO NUMBER BASE TEN AND VICE
VERSA
1. Converting number in base two, eight and five number in base ten.

Steps:
i. Write the number in expanded notation.
ii. Find the sum of the expanded notation.

Example
101102 = (1 x 24) + (0 x 23) + (1 x 22) + (1 x 21) + (0 x 20)
= 16 + 0 + 4 + 2 + 0
= 2210

Exercise
Level 1
1. 27538 =

2. 40325 =
2. Converting number in base ten number in base two, eight and five.

Steps:
i. Perform a division by two, eight or five on the number until the quotient is zero.
ii. Write the remainders in sequence from bottom to top, to form a number in the
base with which the number is repeatedly divided.

Example
Convert 1110 to a number in base two.

2|11 Remainder
2|5 1
2|2 1
2|1 0 Bottom to Top
0 1

::: Remainder from bottom to top, therefore 1110 = 10112

Exercise
Level 1
1. Convert 300010 to a number in base eight.

2. Convert 75010 to a number in base five.

Level 2
Write 25 + 22 + 21 as a number in base two.
Level 2
Write 5(84) + 3(8) as a number in base eight.

Level 2
Write 52(52 + 3) as a number in base five.

3. Converting between number of different bases (two, eight and five).

Steps:
i. Convert the number to a number in base ten.
ii. Then, convert the number in base ten to the required base by using repeated
division.

Exercise:
Level 1
Convert 10010002 to a number in base eight

Level 1
Convert 5008 to a number in base five
Level 1
Convert 1115 to a number in base two

4. Converting number in base two directly to a number in base eight

Steps:
i. Starting from the right of the number, group its digits into groups of three. The
last group on the left might have three or less digits.
ii. Convert each group of three digits to a number in base ten.
iii. The number so obtained is a number in base eight

Example
Convert 10101112 to a number in base eight

1 0 1 0 1 1 1

20 22 21 20 22 + 21 + 20

1 0 + 2 + 0 4 + 2 + 1
1 2 7

::: 10101112 = 1278

Exercise
Level 1
Convert the number 1100101002 to a number in base eight.
5. Convert a number in base eight directly to a number in base two
Steps:
i. Convert each digit of the number in base eight to three digits.
ii. The number so obtained is a number in base two

Example
Convert 758 to a number in base two

7 5

4 + 2 + 1 4 + 0 + 1

22 21 20 22 21 20

1 1 1 1 0 1

::: 758 = 1111012

Exercise
Level 1
Convert the number 30428 to a number in base two.
Level 2
If N = 26 + 24 + 23 + 2, write N as a number
a. In base two

b. In base eight

Level 2
Given 6y8 = 1101112, where y is an integer, find the value of y.

Level 3
Given 60010 = 83p + 82q + 8r, where p, q, and r are positive integers and less than 8, find
the values of p, q, and r. Hence, convert 60010 to a number in base two.
ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF TWO NUMBERS IN BASE TWO
1. The addition and subtraction of two numbers in base two are like in base ten, only
digits of the same place value are added or subtracted.

Example:

1 1 0
+ 1 1 1
1 1 0 1
(4) (3) (2 (1)

Explanation
(1) 0 + 1 = 1
(2) 1 + 1 = 2, so 1 is carried to column (3) and 0 is written in column (2)
(3) 1 + 1 + 1 = 3, so 1 is carried to column (4) 1 is written in column (3)

1 0 0 1 1 0
1 1 0 1
1 1 0 0 1
(6) (5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Explanation
(1) 1 is borrowed from column (2) so that 2 1 =1 in column (1)
(2) 1 has been borrowed by column (1) leaving 0 0 = 0 in column (2)
(3) 1 1 = 0
(4) 1 is borrowed from column (5) which has to be borrowed from column (6).
Therefore 2 1 = 1 in column (4)
(5) Column (5) is left with 1
(6) Column (6) is left with 0

Exercise
Level 1
Find the sum of each of the followings:
i. 110012 + 10112

ii. 101112 + 1102

Level 1
Find the difference of each of the followings:
i. 110112 10102

ii. 100102 11112

Level 2
N2 111112 = 1102, find the value of N.

Level 2
11012 + N2 = 100012, find the value of N.

Level 3 (Revision)
Express 54 + 2 as a number in base five.