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The 3 is the coefficient of 82. In octal numbers just as in decimal numbers, the coefficients of the higher powers of the base are written to the left. When we consider only whole numbers, the digit or coefficient at the right-hand end of the number is therefore the coefficient of 80, which is the lowest power of 8 that it is necessary to use in writing whole numbers.
Since we are accustomed to reading from left to right, it is unfortunate (for purposes of explanation) that the powers of the base increase in the opposite direction, from right to left. But we are used to writing numbers in this manner.
