CONVERSION Numbers

Expressed in decimal number system are much more meaningful to us, than are numbers expressed in any other number system. This is because we hav e been using decimal numbers in our day-to-day life, right from childhood. However, we can represent any number system in any other number system. Because the input and final output values are to be in decimal, computer professionals are often required to convert numbers in other number system to decimal and vice-versa. Many methods can be used to convert numbers from one base to another. A method of converting from another base to decimal, and a method of converting from decimal to another base are described below. 

Converting from another Base to Decimal

The following steps are sued to convert a number in any other base to a base 10 (decimal) number.

Step 1 : Determine the column (positional) value of each digit (this depends on the position of the digit and the base of the number system).

Step 2 : Multiply the obtained column values (in Step 1) by the digits in the corresponding columns.

Step 3 : Sum up the products calculated in Step 2. The total is the equivalent value in decimal.