Converting Binary to Hexadecimal

KS3 Computer Science

11-14 Years Old

48 modules covering EVERY Computer Science topic needed for KS3 level.

GCSE Computer Science

14-16 Years Old

45 modules covering EVERY Computer Science topic needed for GCSE level.

A-Level Computer Science

16-18 Years Old

66 modules covering EVERY Computer Science topic needed for A-Level.

KS3 Hexadecimal System (14-16 years)

  • An editable PowerPoint lesson presentation
  • Editable revision handouts
  • A glossary which covers the key terminologies of the module
  • Topic mindmaps for visualising the key concepts
  • Printable flashcards to help students engage active recall and confidence-based repetition
  • A quiz with accompanying answer key to test knowledge and understanding of the module

A-Level Binary Resources (16-18 years)

  • An editable PowerPoint lesson presentation
  • Editable revision handouts
  • A glossary which covers the key terminologies of the module
  • Topic mindmaps for visualising the key concepts
  • Printable flashcards to help students engage active recall and confidence-based repetition
  • A quiz with accompanying answer key to test knowledge and understanding of the module

Binary Numbering System

Binary is a base 2 numbering system which is made up of two numbers: 0 and 1.  0 means OFF and 1 means ON.  The computer’s central processing unit (CPU) only recognizes these two states – ON and OFF.  It is the foundation for all binary code, which is used in computer and digital systems.

Bits and Bytes

A binary digit called bit is the smallest unit of data in a computer.  Each bit has a single value which is either 0 or 1.  8 bits (b) is equivalent to 1 byte (B).

Hexadecimal Numbering System

Hexadecimal is a base 16 numbering system which is made up of 16 digits: 0 – 9 and six more, which is A through F.

Uses of Hexadecimal

Hexadecimal numbering system is often used by programmers to simplify the binary numbering system.  Since 16 is equivalent to 24, there is a linear relationship between the numbers 2 and 16.  This means that one hexadecimal digit is equivalent to four binary digits.  Computers use binary numbering system while humans use hexadecimal numbering system to shorten binary and make it easier to understand.

Conversion from Binary to Hexadecimal

Conversion can be done in two ways:

Basic Conversion

This is used for binary numbers with four or less digits.

  1. Start with four binary numbers to convert. If the binary has less than 4 digits, just add zeroes to the front to make it 4 digits. For example: 1010. If you have 01, make it 0001. 
  2. Put the binary number on the power of 2 columns as follows:
    Exponent 23 22 21 20
    Value 8 4 2 1
    Binary 1 0 1 0
  3. Take the corresponding value of each binary digit equal to 1 and add to get the total value. The total value corresponds to the decimal equivalent.Total value = (8 + 2) = 10So binary number 1010 is 10 in decimal number.
  4. Convert decimal to hexadecimal.Decimal number 10 is A in hexadecimal.  Refer to the table below.So binary number 1010 is equivalent to A in hexadecimal.
    Hexadecimal Decimal
    0 0
    1 1
    2 2
    3 3
    4 4
    5 5
    6 6
    7 7
    8 8
    9 9
    A 10
    B 11
    C 12
    D 13
    E 14
    F 15

Conversion of Long Binary Numbers

This is used for binary numbers with more than four digits.

  1. Break the string of binary numbers into groups of four, from right to left. If the leftmost binary has less than 4 digits, just add zeroes to the front to make it 4 digits.Example: 1110110010100111 1011 0010 1001(0011) (1011) (0010) (1001)
  2. Convert each group at a time using the Basic Conversion method discussed earlier.0011 = (2 + 1) = 31011 = (8 + 2 + 1) = 11 = B0010 = 2
    1001 = (8+1) = 9
  3. Put together the converted value of each group.So binary number 11101100101001 is 3B29 in hexadecimal.

Conversion from Hexadecimal to Binary

Conversion can be done by converting each hexadecimal digit to 4 binary digits based on the following table:

Hexadecimal Binary
0 0000
1 0001
2 0010
3 0011
4 0100
5 0101
6 0110
7 0111
8 1000
9 1001
A 1010
B 1011
C 1100
D 1101
E 1110
F 1111

Example: 3B29, convert each digit as follows:
3 is converted to 0011
B is converted to 1011
2 is converted to 0010
9 is converted to 1001
So hexadecimal number 3B29 is equivalent to 0011101100101001 in binary.

Further Readings:

Converting binary to hexadecimal involves changing number systems from base 2 to base 16