QA – Basics

BASE SYSTEM
The decimal system has 10 digits (0 - 9) and the largest single digit is 9 followed by 2 digit
numbers. Largest 2 digit number is 99 followed by 3 digit numbers.
If there were only 7 digits (0 - 6), then the largest single digit number would have been 6
followed by 2 digit number, (10,11,12,13,14,15,16, 20,21,22,23….). Largest two digit number
would have been 66 followed by 3 digit numbers (100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 111,
112, 113, 114, 115, 116).
Single digit numbers:

(0-9) 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

(0-8)9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10
(0-7)8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10 11

(0-6)7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 10 11 12

(0-5)6 0 1 2 3 4 5 10 11 12 13
(0-3 )4 0 1 2 3 10 11 12 13 20 21

(0-2)3 0 1 2 10 11 12 20 21 22 100

2 digit numbers:

(0-9) 10 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

(0-8)9 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
(0-7)8 12 13 14 15 16 17 20 21

(0-6)7 13 14 15 16 20 21 22 23

(0-5)6 14 15 20 21 22 23 24 25
(0-3 )4 22 23 30 31 32 33 100 101

(0-2)3 101 102 110 111 112 120 121 122

Digits more than 10:

Example: Hexa-decimal system. Digits used: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E and F. Total
digits used =16

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 1

QA – Basics

Representation:
If a number abc is written in base d, then its decimal equivalent is: a x d2 +b x d1 + c x d0.

For example: if there is a number PQRS written in base N. then its decimal equivalent is:

P Q R S
x
+ x
+ x
+ X

N3 N2 N1 N0

OR the number in the decimal form or the way we normally write is PN3+Q N2+ RN +S

Conversion of a decimal number in a different form is covered in the conversion chapter

Example: (564)7 = 5 x 72 + 6 x 7 + 4= 5 x 49 + 42 + 4= 291

(472)8 = 4 x 82 + 7 x 8 + 2= 4 x 64 + 56 + 2= 314
(2341)5 = 2 x 53 + 3 x 52 + 4 x 5 + 1= 2 x 125 + 3 x 25 + 20 + 1= 346

Comparison of Different Base Systems

If a number N is written in base a and base b and if N is less than both a and b, then N is same in
both bases. For example (2)3=(2)4=(2)5=(2)6=(2)7=(2)8=(2)9=(2)10 . For example (6)7=(6)8=(6)9=(6)10.
Example: How many different values of N are possible in the following calculation: (3)N (2)N =
(6)N ?
If N is more than 6, then the equation will always be true. So, any value of N 7 is possible.
Hence N can take infinite values.
Example: How many different values of N are possible in the following calculation: (6)N x (3)N =
(22)N?
It is clear that N is less than 24 but more than 6, and there can either be 1 value of N or no
value. (22)N = 2 x N1+ 2 x N° = 2N+2 =18 (since 6x3=18). Therefore, N= 8.

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 2