Converting between hexadecimal (hex) and decimal numbers involves understanding the base systems used by each. Hexadecimal is a base-16 system, while decimal is a base-10 system. Here's a step-by-step guide to both conversions:
### Converting Hexadecimal to Decimal
Hexadecimal numbers use a base-16 system, meaning they include 16 symbols: `0-9` and `A-F`, where `A` represents 10, `B` represents 11, up to `F`, which represents 15.
**Steps to Convert Hexadecimal to Decimal:**
1. **Write Down the Hexadecimal Number:**
For example, let’s convert `2F3` to decimal.
2. **Identify the Positional Value:**
Each digit in a hexadecimal number is weighted by powers of 16, starting from the rightmost digit (which is the least significant digit).
- In `2F3`, the rightmost digit is 3 (16^0), the middle digit is F (16^1), and the leftmost digit is 2 (16^2).
3. **Convert Each Hex Digit to Decimal:**
- `3` is `3` in decimal.
- `F` is `15` in decimal.
- `2` is `2` in decimal.
4. **Calculate the Decimal Value:**
Multiply each digit by its positional value and sum the results:
\[
2F3_{16} = (2 \times 16^2) + (F \times 16^1) + (3 \times 16^0)
\]
\[
= (2 \times 256) + (15 \times 16) + (3 \times 1)
\]
\[
= 512 + 240 + 3
\]
\[
= 755
\]
So, `2F3` in hexadecimal is `755` in decimal.
### Converting Decimal to Hexadecimal
**Steps to Convert Decimal to Hexadecimal:**
1. **Write Down the Decimal Number:**
For example, let’s convert `755` to hexadecimal.
2. **Divide the Decimal Number by 16:**
Keep track of the quotient and remainder. The remainder will be the least significant digit of the hexadecimal number.
\[
755 \div 16 = 47 \text{ remainder } 7
\]
Here, 7 is the least significant digit in hexadecimal.
3. **Repeat with the Quotient:**
Take the quotient and divide by 16 again.
\[
47 \div 16 = 2 \text{ remainder } 15
\]
In hexadecimal, 15 is represented as `F`.
4. **Continue Until the Quotient is 0:**
Finally, we divide:
\[
2 \div 16 = 0 \text{ remainder } 2
\]
Here, 2 is the most significant digit.
5. **Combine the Remainders:**
The remainders collected, from last to first, give the hexadecimal number:
- Remainders collected are 2, F, 7.
- Combining them gives `2F7`.
So, `755` in decimal is `2F7` in hexadecimal.
### Summary
- **Hexadecimal to Decimal:** Multiply each hex digit by 16 raised to the power of its position (starting from 0 on the right) and sum the results.
- **Decimal to Hexadecimal:** Divide the decimal number by 16 repeatedly, recording the remainders, and read them from bottom to top to get the hexadecimal representation.
Feel free to ask if you have more questions or need additional examples!