16
HEXADECIMAL SYSTEM
The purpose of the hexadecimal number system is
simply to reduce the number of units necessary for
representing any given numerical figure, thereby reducing
the amount of space in memory necessary to retain it.
Herein, a decimal (normal) number is converted to a
correct hexadecimal number which consists of fewer
characters.
The hexadecimal number system consists of only 16
characters which are shown below by the boldface
characters.
0
=
0
1
=
1
2
=
2
3
=
3
4
=
4
5
=
5
6
=
6
7
=
7
8
=
8
9
=
9
10
=
A
11
=
B
12
=
C
13
=
D
14
=
E
15
=
F
These characters may be arranged in various sequences to produce an infinite number of representations of decimal
numbers. For example: 6D4C = 27,980.
CONVERSION OF DECIMAL WHOLE NUMBER TO HEXADECIMAL NUMBER
1. Divide the decimal number by 16.
Example: 57420/16 = 3588.75
2. Multiply only the fractional part of the product by 16
to arrive at the first character in the hexadecimal
equivalent. Remember, all numbers produced I this step
are shown above. Also note that the product may have no
fraction (.000) which would result in zero as the
hexadecimal number.
Example: .75 x 16 = 12 = C
3. Divide the whole number portion of the product by 16
thereby producing yet another number.
Example: 3588/16 = 224.25
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 in a cyclical fashion until the
numerator to be divided in Step 3 is less than 16. At that
point, the numerator represents the final character in the
hexadecimal sequence.
EXAMPLE: Convert 57,420 into a hexadecimal number:
1.)
57,420/16 = 3588.75
2.)
.75 X 16 = 12 =
C
3.)
3,588/16 = 224.25
2.)
.25 X 16 =
4
3.)
224/16 = 14.00
2.)
.00 X 16 =
0
3.)
14 =
E
57,420
=
E04C
