Thread: Converting a number from decimal base to binary base (with the pencil)

  1. #1
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    Converting a number from decimal base to binary base (with the pencil)

    Hi to all!
    This is my first post so I feel like tot tell you that I studied programming in HighSchool and after two years of Mechanical University I found a part time job that choosed me to do some things.
    I don't know C to much because I forgot most of it and actually I studyed it too little in the HighSchool (I didn't know I was wasting my time ) and I have some mounths to study it and do the job.

    To get to the subject, I want to know the method to transform a decimal number in a binary number, but I want to know it like you write it on a piece of paper.
    I kind of remember something and it's like this:

    -for exemple to transform number 8810


    --------------88/2
    --------------88|44/2
    ---------------0|44|22/2
    ------------------0|22|11/2
    ---------------------0|10|5/2
    ------------------------1|4|2\2
    --------------------------- 1|2|1
    ------------------------------0


    I will explain what I did:
    -first line I divided 88 by 2;
    -44 of the second line is the result of 88 divided by 2;
    -88 of the second line is the result of the multiplication of 44 with the same 2;
    -0 of the third line is the result of the difference between 88 of the first line and 88 of the second line;
    -44 of the second line I divided it by 2;
    -forward I followed the same algoritm;

    The binary number of 8810 is the red number read from right to left: 10110002 .

    My problem is that I don't know if the algoritm is correct, so I ask for help.

    Thank you for reading it.

  2. #2
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    well if you learn your base 2 numbers it is easier. Instead of 88/2 you can just find the closes number close to 88 in base 2. Then subtract that number from 88, then get whatever's left, and find the closest base 2 number close to that, until you get the decimal sequence in conjunction with the exponents of base 2.

    Example

    88
    64 <--- 2^6 closest number to 88 in base 2
    ---
    24
    16<----2^4
    ---
    8<-------2^3
    8
    ----
    0

    Now decimal places 6, 4, and 3 are all 2s.

    1011000
    Last edited by indigo0086; 10-06-2006 at 09:40 AM.

  3. #3
    Registered User hk_mp5kpdw's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by indigo0086
    Now decimal places 6, 5, and 3 are all 1s.

    1011000
    6, 5 and 3?
    "Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods."
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  4. #4
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    6, 4, and three. Sorry for my dyslexia.

  5. #5
    Moderately Rabid Decrypt's Avatar
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    Now decimal places 6, 4, and 3 are all 2s.
    All 2s?



    [edit] OK, really, though, the algorithm works, I think. This is the way I learned it, which is probably just the same, but worded a bit differently:
    Code:
    0  88
    0  44
    0  22
    1  11
    1  5
    0  2
    1  1
       0
    First, 88 divided by 2 is 44 remainder 0. 44 divided my 2 is 22 remainder 0, and so on down the line. (I would include them all, but all this coloring is really tedious.) Once you hit 0 on the right column, you are done, since 0 divided by 2 is 0 remainder 0, which you could just keep doing all day long if you keep going. You get your answer by writing the remainders in the opposite order you got them:
    Code:
    1011000
    or 1011000 if the colors make your eyes hurt. (And let's face it; they do.)
    Last edited by Decrypt; 10-06-2006 at 10:35 AM.
    There is a difference between tedious and difficult.

  6. #6
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    "I am Error"

  7. #7
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    128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

    88 >= 128 ? 0
    88 >= 64 ? 1 (88-64 = 24)
    24 >= 32 ? 0
    24 >= 16 ? 1 (24 - 16 = 8)
    8 >= 8 ? 1 (8 - 8 = 0)
    0 >= 4 ? 0
    0 >= 2 ? 0
    0 >= 1 ? 0

    0101 1000
    Last edited by simpleid; 10-06-2006 at 11:02 AM.

  8. #8
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    Thank you indigo0086, I've got the algoritm.
    Decrypt, your algoritm is exactly like my algoritm but I write more of it. It's simpler like yours.
    simpleid, why is that a zero before all the number because all have not got that zero?

  9. #9
    Reverse Engineer maxorator's Avatar
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    Square root algorithm is much more fun!
    "The Internet treats censorship as damage and routes around it." - John Gilmore

  10. #10
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    simpleid, why is that a zero before all the number because all have not got that zero?
    He's padding the number out to 8 digits, or one byte.

    0100 = 100.

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