Easy Way to Calculate Decimal to Binary

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The decimal (base ten) numeral system has ten possible values (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, or 9) for each place-value. In contrast, the binary (base two) numeral system has two possible values represented as 0 or 1 for each place-value.^[1] Since the binary system is the internal language of electronic computers, serious computer programmers should understand how to convert from decimal to binary.

Converter

1. 1

   Set up the problem. For this example, let's convert the decimal number 156₁₀ to binary. Write the decimal number as the dividend inside an upside-down "long division" symbol. Write the base of the destination system (in our case, "2" for binary) as the divisor outside the curve of the division symbol.^[2]

   • This method is much easier to understand when visualized on paper, and is much easier for beginners, as it relies only on division by two.
   • To avoid confusion before and after conversion, write the number of the base system that you are working with as a subscript of each number. In this case, the decimal number will have a subscript of 10 and the binary equivalent will have a subscript of 2.

2. 2

   Divide. Write the integer answer (quotient) under the long division symbol, and write the remainder (0 or 1) to the right of the dividend.^[3]

   • Since we are dividing by 2, when the dividend is even the binary remainder will be 0, and when the dividend is odd the binary remainder will be 1.

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3. 3

   Continue to divide until you reach 0. Continue downwards, dividing each new quotient by two and writing the remainders to the right of each dividend. Stop when the quotient is 0.^[4]

4. 4

   Write out the new, binary number. Starting with the bottom remainder, read the sequence of remainders upwards to the top. For this example, you should have 10011100. This is the binary equivalent of the decimal number 156. Or, written with base subscripts: 156₁₀ = 10011100₂ ^[5]

   • This method can be modified to convert from decimal to any base. The divisor is 2 because the desired destination is base 2 (binary). If the desired destination is a different base, replace the 2 in the method with the desired base. For example, if the desired destination is base 9, replace the 2 with 9. The final result will then be in the desired base.

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1. 1

   Start by making a chart. List the powers of two in a "base 2 table" from right to left. Start at 2⁰, evaluating it as "1". Increment the exponent by one for each power. Make the list up until you've reached a number very near the decimal system number you're starting with. For this example, let's convert the decimal number 156₁₀ to binary.^[6]

2. 2

   Look for the greatest power of 2. Choose the biggest number that will fit into the number you are converting. 128 is the greatest power of two that will fit into 156, so write a 1 beneath this box in your chart for the leftmost binary digit. Then, subtract 128 from your initial number. You now have 28.^[7]

3. 3

   Move to the next lower power of two. Using your new number (28), move down the chart marking how many times each power of 2 can fit into your dividend. 64 does not go into 28, so write a 0 beneath that box for the next binary digit to the right. Continue until you reach a number that can go into 28.^[8]

4. 4

   Subtract each successive number that can fit, and mark it with a 1. 16 can fit into 28, so you will write a 1 beneath its box and subtract 16 from 28. You now have 12. 8 does go into 12, so write a 1 beneath 8's box and subtract it from 12. You now have 4.^[9]

5. 5

   Continue until you reach the end of your chart. Remember to mark a 1 beneath each number that does go into your new number, and a 0 beneath those that don't.^[10]

6. 6

   Write out the binary answer. The number will be exactly the same from left to right as the 1's and 0's beneath your chart. You should have 10011100. This is the binary equivalent of the decimal number 156. Or, written with base subscripts: 156₁₀ = 10011100₂.^[11]

   • Repetition of this method will result in memorization of the powers of two, which will allow you to skip Step 1.

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Add New Question

• Question

  How do you convert the fractional part of a decimal to a binary?

  

  If the decimal number has a fractional part, then the fractional parts are converted into binary by multiplying it by 2. Only the integer part of the result is noted. Repeat the multiplication until the fractional part becomes 0. Eg. 0.75 is the number we want to convert, so we'll start multiplying it by 2. 0.75 *2=1.50. Here, the fractional part is not 0 so we repeat this until the fractional part becomes 0. 1.50*2=3.00. Now take the integer part of the answer, 3, then convert it into binary. 11 is the binary form of 3. Then place the decimal point in front of the number, which is .11. Therefore, .11 is the binary form of .75

• Question

  How do I convert a mixed number to binary?

  

  Convert the mixed number to a decimal, then follow the instructions in the article above.

• Question

  How do I convert 0.2663 into binary?

  

  Jordan Newberry

  Community Answer

  Start by converting 0.2663 into the fraction 2,663 / 10,000 . Use the steps above to convert 2,663 into the binary number 1010 0110 0111 and 10,000 into 10 0111 0001 0000 . So, now we have a binary fraction: 1010 0110 0111 / 10 0111 0001 0000 . Divide 1010 0110 0111 by 10 0111 0001 0000 . To do this, follow the WikiHow article: "How to Divide Binary Numbers". When you divide 1010 0110 0111 by 10 0111 0001 0000 you should get 0.0100 0100 0010... I rounded to the nearest 4,096 th.

• Question

  How do I convert 56 to binary?

  

  Divide 56 by 2 and you will get a remainder 0 and q as 28, again divide 28 by 2 and so on. Now all the remainders you got from last to first will give you the binary.

• Question

  How do I convert a decimal number from decimal to binary?

  

  2^4=16 2^3=8 2^2=4 2^1=2 2^0=1, etc. If my number is 19 in decimal form, it's going to require 16 and 2 and 1, so I put a 1 in those locations and a 0 in the rest. 2^4=16 2^3=8 2^2=4 2^1=2 2^0=1 1 0 0 1 1 = 19 = 16 + 2 + 1

• Question

  How do I write 146 base 8-in decimal?

  

  Jordan Newberry

  Community Answer

  The octal number 146 converts to the decimal number 102. This is because 146 has a 6 in the 1's place, a 4 in the 8's place and a 1 in the 64's place. This gives us: (6 x 1) + (4 x 8) + (1 x 64) = 6 + 32 + 64 = 102.

• Question

  If a number is a fraction, how would you convert that to a binary?

  

  Convert the numerator and denominator to binary individually. To convert decimals, use the subtraction method above, using halves, quarters, eighths, sixteenths, and so on for the new places.

• Question

  How do I convert 11,111 to binary?

  

  Jordan Newberry

  Community Answer

  The decimal number 11,111 converts to 10 1011 0110 0111 in binary. If you follow the steps above, you will arrive at this answer.

• Question

  How do I convert A001B0C into binary?

  

  Jordan Newberry

  Community Answer

  That's quite a large number you've got there! A00 1B0C is a hexadecimal number that converts to 1010 0000 0000 0001 1011 0000 1100 in binary. A00 1B0C means 167,779,084 in our every-day decimal system. Hexadecimal is base 16, decimal is base 10 and binary is base 2.

• Question

  How can I convert a decimal to octal?

  

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• The calculator that comes installed with Windows 10 can do this conversion for you, but as a programmer, you're better off with a good understanding of how the conversion works. The calculator's conversion options can be made visible by opening its "View" menu and selecting "Programmer"

• Practice. Try converting the decimal numbers 178₁₀, 63₁₀, and 8₁₀. The binary equivalents are 10110010₂, 111111₂, and 1000₂. Try converting 209₁₀, 25₁₀, and 241₁₀ to, respectively, 11010001₂, 11001₂, and 11110001₂.

• Converting in the opposite direction, from binary to decimal, is often easier to learn first.

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Article Summary X

To convert a number from decimal to binary, write down the number at the top of a sheet of paper. Divide the number by 2, and write the remainder out to the side. If you are dividing an odd number, the remainder will be 1, and if it's even, the remainder will be 0. After you divide the number, write the result on the next line, divide it by 2, and write down the remainder. Continue this until the quotient is 0. Starting at the bottom, write down all the remainders in order. This new number is the binary conversion of the decimal. If you want to learn how to find the binary of a decimal using subtraction and the powers of 2, keep reading the article!

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