ENCODING SCHEMES AND NUMBER SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION
We have learnt in the previous chapter that computer understands only
binary language of 0s and 1s. Therefore, when a key on the keyboard is
pressed, it is internally mapped to a unique code, which is further converted to
binary.
Example 2.1 When the key ‘A’ is pressed (Figure 2.1), it is internally mapped to
a decimal value 65 (code value), which is then converted to its equivalent binary
value for the computer to understand.

Encoding: The mechanism of converting data into an equivalent cipher using

specific code is called encoding.
It is important to understand why code value 65 is used for the key “A” and not
any other value? Is it same for all the keyboards irrespective of their make? Yes,
it is same for all the keyboards. This has been possible because of standard
encoding schemes where each letter, numeral and symbol is encoded or
assigned a unique code. Some of the well-known encoding schemes are
described in the following sections.
NOTE: Cipher means something converted to a coded form to hide/conceal it
from others. It is also called encryption (converted to cipher) and sent to the
receiver who in turn can decrypt it to get back the actual content.
American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII)
 In the early 1960s, computers had no way of communicating with each
other due to different ways of representing keys of the keyboard. Hence,
the need for a common standard was realised to overcome this
shortcoming.
 Thus, encoding scheme ASCII was developed for standardising the
character representation. ASCII is still the most commonly used coding
scheme. Initially ASCII used 7 bits to represent characters.
 Recall that there are only 2 binary digits (0 or 1). Therefore, total number
of different characters on the English keyboard that can be encoded by 7-
bit ASCII code is 27 = 128. Table 2.1 shows some printable characters for
ASCII code. But ASCII is able to encode character set of English
language only.

Example 2.2 Encode the word DATA and convert the encoded value into binary
values which can be understood by a computer.
• ASCII value of D is 68 and its equivalent 7-bit binary code = 1000100
• ASCII value of A is 65 and its equivalent 7-bit binary code = 1000001
• ASCII value of T is 84 and its equivalent 7-bit binary code = 1010100
• ASCII value of A is 65 and its equivalent 7-bit binary code = 1000001
Replace each alphabet in DATA with its ASCII code value to get its equivalent
ASCII code and with 7-bit binary code to get its equivalent binary number.
Indian Script Code for Information Interchange (ISCII)
In order to facilitate the use of Indian languages on computers, a common
standard for coding Indian scripts called ISCII was developed in India during
mid 1980s. It is an 8-bit code representation for Indian languages which means
it can represent 28=256 characters. It retains all 128 ASCII codes and uses rest
of the codes (128) for additional Indian language character set. Additional codes
have been assigned in the upper region (160–255) for the ‘aksharas’ of the
language.
UNICODE
 There were many encoding schemes, for character sets of different
languages. But they were not able to communicate with each other, as
each of them represented characters in their own ways. Hence, text
created using one encoding scheme was not recognised by another
machine using different encoding scheme.
 Therefore, a standard called UNICODE has been developed to
incorporate all the characters of every written language of the world.
UNICODE provides a unique number for every character, irrespective of
device (server, desktop, mobile), operating system (Linux, Windows,
iOS) or software application (different browsers, text editors, etc.).
 Commonly used UNICODE encodings are UTF-8, UTF-16 and UTF-32.
 It is a superset of ASCII, and the values 0–128 have the same character
as in ASCII.
NUMBER SYSTEM
o Each key is representing character, special symbol, function keys, etc. of
the keyboard is internally mapped to an ASCII code following an
encoding scheme. This encoded value is further converted to its
equivalent binary representation so that the computer can understand it.
o In Figure 2.1, the code for character “A” belongs to the decimal number
system and its equivalent binary value belongs to the binary number
system. A number system is a method to represent (write) numbers.
o Every number system has a set of unique characters or literals. The count
of these literals is called the radix or base of the number system. The four
different number systems used in the context of computer are shown in
Figure 2.2.
• Number systems are also called positional number system because the value of
each symbol (i.e., digit and alphabet) in a number depends upon its position
within the number.
•Number may also have a fractional part similar to decimal numbers used by us.
The symbol at the right most position in the integer part in a given number has
position 0. The value of position (also called position value) in the integer part
increases from right to left by 1. On the other hand, the first symbol in the
fraction part of the number has position number –1, which decreases by 1 while
reading fraction part from left to right.
•Each symbol in a number has a positional value, which is computed using its
position value and the base value of the number system. The symbol at position
number 3 in a decimal system with base 10 has positional value 103. Adding the
product of positional value and the symbol value results in the given number.

DECIMAL NUMBER SYSTEM

The decimal number system is used in our day-to-day life. It is known as base-
10 system since 10 digits (0 to 9) are used. A number is presented by its two
values — symbol value (any digit from 0 to 9) and positional value (in terms of
base value).
BINARY NUMBER SYSTEM
•The ICs (Integrated Circuits) in a computer are made up of a large number of
transistors which are activated by the electronic signals (low/high) they receive.
•The ON/ high and OFF/low state of a transistor is represented using the two
digits 1 and 0, respectively. These two digits 1 and 0 form the binary number
system. This system is also referred as base-2 system as it has two digits only.
Some examples of binary numbers are 1001011, 1011.101, 111111.01.
•A binary number can be mapped to an equivalent decimal number that can be
easily understood by the human.

OCTAL NUMBER SYSTEM

o With increase in the value of a decimal number, the number of bits (0/1)
in its binary representation also increases. Sometimes, a binary number is
so large that it becomes difficult to manage.
o Octal number system was devised for compact representation of the
binary numbers. Octal number system is called base-8 system as it has
total eight digits (0-7), and positional value is expressed in powers of 8.
Three binary digits (8=23) are sufficient to represent any octal digit. Table
2.5 shows the decimal and binary equivalent of 8 octal digits. Examples
of octal numbers are (237.05)8, (13)8, and (617.24)8.
HEXADECIMAL NUMBER SYSTEM
Hexadecimal numbers are also used for compact representation of binary
numbers. It consists of 16 unique symbols (0–9, A–F), and is called base16
system. In hexadecimal system, each alphanumeric digit is represented as a group
of 4 binary digits because 4 bits (24=16) are sufficient to represent 16
alphanumeric symbols. Note here that the decimal numbers 10 through 15 are
represented by the letters A through F. Examples of Hexadecimal numbers are
(23A.05)16, (1C3)16, (619B.A)16.
APPLICATION OF NUMBER SYSTEM
•Main memory is made up of memory locations where each location has a unique
address. Usually, size of a memory address is 16-bit or 32-bit. To access 16-bit
memory address, a programmer has to use 16 binary bits, which is difficult to
deal with. To simplify the address representation, hexadecimal and octal numbers
are used. Let us consider a 16- bit memory address 1100000011110001. Using
the hexadecimal notation, this address is mapped to C0F1 which is more easy to
remember. The equivalent octal representation for this 16-bit value is 140361.
• Hexadecimal numbers are also used for describing the colours on the webpage.
Each colour is made up of three primary colours red, green and blue, popularly
called RGB(inshort).Inmost colour maps, each colour is usually chosen from a
palette of 16 million colours. Therefore, 24 bits are required for representing each
colour having three components (8 bits for Red, 8 bits for Green, 8 bits for Blue
component). It is difficult to remember 24-bit binary colour code. Therefore,
colour codes are written in hexadecimal form for compact representation. For
example, 24-bit code for RED colour is 11111111,00000000,00000000. The
equivalent hexadecimal notation is (FF,00,00), which can be easily remembered
and used.

CONVERSION BETWEEN NUMBER SYSTEM

Decimal number system is most commonly used by humans, but digital systems
understand binary numbers; whereas Octal and hexadecimal number systems are
used to simplify the binary representation for us to understand.
Conversion from decimal to other number system
To convert a decimal number to any other number system (binary, octal or
hexadecimal), use the steps given below.
Step 1: Divide the given number by the base value (b) of the number system in
which it is to be converted
Step 2: Note the remainder
Step 3: Keep on dividing the quotient by the base value and note the remainder
till the quotient is zero.
Step 4: Write the noted remainders in the reverse order (from bottom to top)
(A)Decimal to Binary Conversion
Since the base value of binary system is 2, the decimal number is repeatedly
divided by 2 following the steps given in above till the quotient is 0. Record the
remainder after each division and finally write the remainders in reverse order in
which they are computed.

(B) Decimal to Octal Conversion

Since the base value of octal is 8, the decimal number is repeatedly
divided by 8 to obtain its equivalent octal number.
The octal equivalent of letter “A” by using its ASCII code value (65)10.

(C)Decimal to Hexadecimal conversion

Since the base value of hexadecimal is 16, the decimal number is repeatedly
divided by 16 to obtain its equivalent hexadecimal number.
Conversion from other Number Systems to Decimal Number System
We can use the following steps to convert the given number with base value b
to its decimal equivalent, where base value b can be 2, 8 and 16 for binary, octal
and hexadecimal number system, respectively.
Step 1: Write the position number for each alphanumeric symbol in the given
number.
Step 2: Get positional value for each symbol by raising its position number to
the base value b symbol in the given number
Step 3: Multiply each digit with the respective positional value to get a decimal
value
Step 4: Add all these decimal values to get the equivalent decimal number (A)
Binary Number to Decimal Number
Since binary number system has base 2, the positional values are computed in
terms of powers of 2. Using the above mentioned steps we can convert a binary
number to its equivalent decimal value as shown below:
Example 2.6 Convert (1101)2 into decimal number.
Digit 1 1 0 1
Position Number 3 2 1 0
Positional Value 23 22 21 20
Decimal Number 1 × 23 + 1 × 22 + 0 × 21 + 1 × 20 = 8 + 4 + 0 + 1 = (13)10
Note: Add the product of positional value and corresponding digit to get
decimal number
(B) Octal Number to Decimal Number
The following example shows how to compute the decimal equivalent of an
octal number using base value 8.
Example 2.7 Convert (257)8 into decimal number.
Digit 2 5 7
Position Number 2 1 0
Positional Value 82 81 80
Decimal Number 2 × 82 +5 × 81 + 7 × 80 =128 + 40 + 7 = (175)10
(C) Hexadecimal Number to Decimal Number
For converting a hexadecimal number into decimal number, use steps given in
this section with base value 16 of hexadecimal number system.
Example: Convert (3A5)16 into decimal number.
Digit 3 A 5
Position Number 2 1 0
Positional Value 162 161 160
Decimal Number 3 × 162 +10 × 161 + 5 × 160 =768 + 160 + 5 = (933)10
Note: Use Table 2.5 for decimal value of alphabets
Conversion from Binary Number to Octal/ Hexadecimal Number and Vice-
Versa
A binary number is converted to octal or hexadecimal number by making
groups of 3 and 4 bits, respectively, and replacing each group by its equivalent
octal/ hexadecimal digit.
(A)Binary Number to Octal Number
Given a binary number, an equivalent octal number represented by 3 bits is
computed by grouping 3 bits from right to left and replacing each 3-bit group by
the corresponding octal digit. In case number of bits in a binary number is not
multiple of 3, then add required number of 0s on most significant position of the
binary number.
Example: Convert (10101100)2 to octal number.
Make group of 3-bits of the given binary number (right to left) 010 101 100
Write octal number for each 3-bit group 2 5 4
Therefore, (10101100)2 = (254)8
(B) Octal Number to Binary Number
Each octal digit is an encoding for a 3-digit binary number. Octal number is
converted to binary by replacing each octal digit by a group of three binary
digits.
Example: Convert (705)8 to binary number.
Octal digits 7 0 5
Write 3-bits binary value for each digit 111 000 101
Therefore, (705)8 = (111000101)2
(C) Binary Number to Hexadecimal Number
Given a binary number, its equivalent hexadecimal number is computed by
making a group of 4 binary digits from right to left and substituting each 4-bit
group by its corresponding hexadecimal alphanumeric symbol. If required, add
0 bit on the most significant position of the binary number to have number of
bits in a binary number as multiple of 4.
Example: Convert (0110101100)2 to hexadecimal number.
Make group of 4-bits of the given
binary number (right to left) 0001 1010 1100
Write hexadecimal symbol for each group 1 A C
Therefore, (0110101100)2 = (1AC)16
(D) Hexadecimal Number to Binary Number
Each hexadecimal symbol is an encoding for a 4-digit binary number. Hence,
the binary equivalent of a hexadecimal number is obtained by substituting 4-bit
binary equivalent of each hexadecimal digit and combining them together.
Example: Convert (23D)16 to binary number.
Hexadecimal digits 2 3 D
Write 4-bit binary value for each digit 0010 0011 1101
Therefore, (23D)16 = (001000111101)2
Conversion of a Number with Fractional Part
Till now, we largely dealt with different conversions for whole number. In this
section, we will learn about conversion of numbers with a fractional part.
(A)Decimal Number with Fractional Part to another Number System
To convert the fractional part of a decimal number to another number system
with base value b, repeatedly multiply the fractional part by the base value b till
the fractional part becomes 0. Use integer part from top to bottom to get
equivalent number in that number system. If the fractional part does not become
0 in successive multiplication, then stop after, say 10 multiplications. In some
cases, fractional part may start repeating, then stop further calculation.
Since the fractional part (.800) is repeating, the multiplication is stopped. Write
the integer part from top to bottom to get hexadecimal equivalent for the
fractional part. Therefore, (0.675)10 = (0. AC)16
(B) Non-decimal Number with Fractional Part to Decimal Number System
Compute positional value of each digit in the given number using its base value.
Add the product of positional value and the digit to get the equivalent decimal
number with fractional part.

(C) Fractional Binary Number to Octal or Hexadecimal Number

To convert the fractional binary number into octal or hexadecimal value,
substitute groups of 3-bit or 4-bit in integer part by the corresponding digit.
Similarly, make groups of 3-bit or 4-bit for fractional part starting from left to
right, and substitute each group by its equivalent digit or symbol in Octal or
Hexadecimal number system. Add 0s at the end of the fractional part to make a
perfect group of 3 or 4 bits.