Arithmetic of Computers

Lesson 6

The Octal System

From eight to ten

Page 191

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Your answer :

No.

You are correct.

So long as we are agreed on the number for the base of our number system, we may use any number we please.

A number system based on powers of 8 finds considerable use around digital computers. This system is called the octal system (Latin octo = eight). To introduce the basic ideas in the octal system, let’s consider first the following question:

What decimal number is represented by the expression

1(8²) + 3(8¹) + 2(8⁰)?

Answer :

1(8²) + 3(8¹) + 2(8⁰) = 89.

Go to Page 180

1(8²) + 3(8¹) + 2(8⁰) = 90.

Go to Page 187

1(8²) + 3(8¹) + 2(8⁰) = 104.

Go to Page 195

Answer to Self-Test Question 1, Lesson 6 :

a. 262; b. 28; c. 346; d. 136.