Hexadecimal Conversions

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Note that the calculator that comes with the Microsoft Windows operating system can do conversions.  To use the calculator click on Start, Programs, Accessories, Calculator.  Then change the calculator to "Scientific" mode by clicking on View and then Scientific.  Now you should see option buttons for Hex, Dec, Oct (Octal), and Bin (Binary).  To convert 1234 Hex to decimal you would "clear" the calculator, click the Hex option button, enter 1234 and then click the Dec option button and you should see the result 4,660.

Hex to decimal examples

1234h = 4,096 + 512 + 48 + 4 = 4,660 decimal

FC96h = 61,440 + 3,072 + 144 + 6 = 64,662 decimal

Decimal to Hex examples

To convert from decimal to hex find the largest decimal number less than or equal to the number you are converting and find the corresponding hex digit.  Subtract the value of that hex digit and repeat for the next digit.  

13,117 decimal to hex:

3000h = 12,288 which is less than or equal to 13,117

13,117 - 12,288 = 829

0300h = 768 which is less than or equal to 829 

829 - 768 = 61

0030h = 48 which is less than or equal to 61

61 - 48 = 13 which can be read from the table as 000Dh

Therefore 13,117 decimal = 333Dh

Using the Remainder Method

This method sent in by John A. Harris of Woodstock, GA:

A Decimal to Hexadecimal conversion method that does not require a table look up.  Use remainders of repeated integer divides by 16 until quotient is zero.  Convert remainders to hex (0-16 to 0-F) and line up in reverse order of rendering.

13,117 / 16 = 819 remainder 13 or D  (least significant digit)

819 / 16 = 51 with remainder of 3

51 / 16 = 3 with remainder of  3

3 / 16 = 0 with remainder of 3 (most significant digit)

333Dh

See Also

• Number systems conversions