Module 5: Number Systems

Instructor Materials

Introduction to Networks v7.0

(ITN)
Module 5: Number Systems
Introduction to Networks v7.0
(ITN)
Module Objectives
Module Title: Number Systems

Module Objective: Calculate numbers between decimal, binary, and hexadecimal systems.

Topic Title Topic Objective

Binary Number System Calculate numbers between decimal and binary
systems.
Hexadecimal Number System Calculate numbers between decimal and
hexadecimal systems.

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5.1 Binary Number System

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Binary Number System
Binary and IPv4 Addresses
• Decimal numbering system consists of digits 0 through 9
• Binary numbering system consists of 1s and 0s, called bits
• Hosts, servers, and network equipment using binary addressing to identify each other.
• Each address is made up of a string of 32 bits, divided into four sections called octets.
• Each octet contains 8 bits (or 1 byte) separated by a dot.
• For ease of use by people, this dotted notation is converted to dotted decimal.

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Binary Number System
Decimal Positional Notation

Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones

Positional Value
Decimal Number
Calculate
Add them up…
Result

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Binary Number System
Decimal Positional Notation (Cont)

Position 3 2 1 0
Positional Value 103=1000 102=100 101=10 100=1
Decimal Number
Calculate x 103 = x 102 = x 101 = x 100 =
Add them up…
Result

Base/radix = 10
Positional Value = radixposition

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Binary Number System
Binary Positional Notation

Position 3 2 1 0
Positional Value 23=8 22=4 21=2 20=1
Binary Number
Calculate x 23 = x 22 = x 21 = x 20 =
Add them up…
Result

Base/radix = 2
Positional Value = radixposition

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Binary Number System
Binary Positional Notation (Cont)

Position 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Positional Value 27=128 26=64 25=32 24=16 23=8 22=4 21=2 20=1

Binary Number

Calculate result

Base/radix = 2
Positional Value = radixposition

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Binary Number System
Decimal to Binary Conversion
The binary positional value table is useful in converting a dotted decimal IPv4 address to
binary.

• Start in the 128 position (the most

significant bit). Is the decimal number of
the octet (n) equal to or greater than
128?
• If no, record a binary 0 in the 128
positional value and move to the 64
positional value.
• If yes, record a binary 1 in the 128
positional value, subtract 128 from the
decimal number, and move to the 64
positional value.
• Repeat these steps through the 1
positional value.

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Binary Number System
Decimal to Binary Conversion Example
• Convert decimal 168 to binary
Is 168 > 128?
- Yes, enter 1 in 128 position and subtract 128 (168-128=40)
Is 40 > 64?
- No, enter 0 in 64 position and move on
Is 40 > 32?
- Yes, enter 1 in 32 position and subtract 32 (40-32=8)
Is 8 > 16?
- No, enter 0 in 16 position and move on
Is 8 > 8?
- Equal. Enter 1 in 8 position and subtract 8 (8-8=0)
No values left. Enter 0 in remaining binary positions
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0

Decimal 168 is written as 10101000 in binary

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Binary Number System
IPv4 Addresses
• Routers and computers only understand binary, while humans work in
decimal. It is important for you to gain a thorough understanding of these two
numbering systems and how they are used in networking.

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5.2 Hexadecimal Number
System

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Hexadecimal Number System
Hexadecimal and IPv6 Addresses
• To understand IPv6 addresses,
you must be able to convert
hexadecimal to decimal and
vice versa.
• Hexadecimal is a base sixteen
numbering system, using the
digits 0 through 9 and letters A
to F.
• It is easier to express a value
as a single hexadecimal digit
than as four binary bit.
• Hexadecimal is used to
represent IPv6 addresses and
MAC addresses.

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Hexadecimal Number System
Hexadecimal to Decimal Conversions

Position 3 2 1 0
Positional Value 163=4096 162=256 161=16 160=1
Hexa Number
Calculate x 163 = x 162 = x 161 = x 160 =
Add them up…
Result

Base/radix = 16
Positional Value = radixposition

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Hexadecimal Number System
Decimal to Hexadecimal Conversions

• Steps:
1. Divide the decimal number by 16.  
Treat the division as an integer
division.  
2. Write down the remainder (in
hexadecimal).
3. Divide the result again by 16.  Treat
the division as an integer division.  
4. Repeat step 2 and 3 until result is 0.
5. The hex value is the digit sequence
of the remainders from the last to
first.

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Hexadecimal Number System
Hexadecimal and IPv6 Addresses (Cont.)
• IPv6 addresses are 128 bits in
length. Every 4 bits is
represented by a single
hexadecimal digit. That makes
the IPv6 address a total of 32
hexadecimal values.
• The figure shows the preferred
method of writing out an IPv6
address, with each X
representing four hexadecimal
values.
• Each four hexadecimal
character group is referred to
as a hextet.

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