09/11/2025
Understanding Number Bases: The Language of Numbers
Every number speaks a language — and bases are the alphabets.
In our daily life, we use base 10 (because we have 10 digits, 0–9). But in mathematics and computer science, we often meet base 2 (binary), base 8 (octal), and base 16 (hexadecimal).
Why examiners love this topic:
Because it tests your understanding, not memory. If you understand the “place value” system, you can convert any number between bases confidently.
Quick Tips:
To convert from base 10 to base n, divide repeatedly by n and write the remainders from bottom to top.
To convert from base n to base 10, multiply each digit by its place value (starting from right).
See Example attached! 👇
Examiner’s advice: Always write your workings clearly and label your bases — many marks are lost when students forget to indicate them!