Prelude to Computer Science - 4: Essential Math, Base 10

The number system with which most of us are familiar is a base-10, positionally-weighted number system. The concepts used to understand this number system will be directly transferable to understanding the number systems often used in studying computers.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Base
• 10
• computer
• science
• introduction
• essential
• math

[youngthug21]

how do i subtract one octal number from another octal number?

i had it on a test today and i was blank...i only know how to add

[TheFallibleFiend]

The same way you subtract a decimal #s; that is, you carry. Example:

B8: 23 - 5 = 10 + 13 -5 = 10 + 6 = 16

Check answer:

DEC: 19 - 5 = 14

14 base 10 = 16 base 8

So we're probably correct.

[redfoxarts]

Can you pls help me on converting any base number to any base number? plsssss??? need it badly!!!

[TheFallibleFiend]

The easiest and I think most straight-forward way of doing this is to convert the number in the first base to base 10 and then convert from base 10 to the new base. For old base to base 10, go through each digit and multiply by increasing powers of the old base. Add each of these mutliplications together to get the base 10 number.

[BlakeVII]

I might be wasting my time here by asking a question in the hope of getting a response, but here goes.

I want to convert a number: 126base10 to base8.

I know how to do this but I don't know why it works. I don't understand why the remainder of each successive division forms the answer.

Can you or anyone else for that matter, explain this to me?

[TheFallibleFiend]

I explain why the method works here:

watch?v=HQrrMde0Bq4

Also I show how to use the method to convert from decimal to binary here:

watch?v=UtnncG4xXaI

Hope it makes sense. good luck.

[videomaster411]

Thank you so much

[Par5Birdie]

This was quick to learn.

[TheMarky02]

this was very helpful! I got a basic understanding! this broke it down, in class things move a little fast!!

[1nglewattz1]

Thanks for explaining base nice and simple.

[TheFallibleFiend]

I employ this method in one of my videos (base 10 to base 2) and ask the viewer to why he thinks it works. It's a little difficult to explain in words ... especially when these responses are limited in length. If I don't give you a video or a web link in a day or two, ping me again.