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Section 4.3 Binary Conversions - Multiplication/Division Method

The biggest issue with the “table method” shown on the previous page is that it is hard to translate into an algorithm that a machine could run. The multiplication/division methods shown on this page are much easier to express in simple terms as they rely on mathematics instead of looking at a table and making a decision.
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Subsection 4.3.1 Decimal to Binary

The following algorithm converts a decimal number to a binary one:
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Step 1: Start with a blank answer and the number you are converting
Step 2: Divide your number by 2 to make a quotient and a remainder
Step 3: Place your remainder on the left side of your answer
Step 4: If your quotient is 0, you are done
        Otherwise, make the quotient your new number and go back to step 2
Here is an example of running the algorithm to convert 1110 to binary:
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Animation used by permission of Virginia Tech
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So the decimal number 11 in binary is 10112.
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Subsection 4.3.2 Binary to Decimal

To convert a binary number to its decimal value, we can use almost the same trick, but in reverse:
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Step 1: Start with the 'number' you are converting and the 'answer' of 0
Step 2: Multiply your 'answer' by 2
Step 3: Remove the leftmost digit of 'number' and add it to your 'answer'
Step 4: If 'number' has no more digits, you are done
        Otherwise, go back to step 2
If we follow this algorithm to convert 11012 into a decimal value, it would look like this:
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Step 1: 'number' is 1101 and 'answer' is 0
Step 2: 'answer' is multiplied by 2 - it becomes 0
Step 3: Remove the leftmost digit of 'number' and add it to 'answer'
         'number' is now 101 and 'answer' is 1
Step 4: 'number' still has digits, go back to step 2
Step 2: 'answer' is multiplied by 2 - it becomes 2
Step 3: Remove the leftmost digit of 'number' and add it to 'answer'
         'number' is now 01 and 'answer' is 3
Step 4: 'number' still has digits, go back to step 2
Step 2: 'answer' is multiplied by 2 - it becomes 6
Step 3: Remove the leftmost digit of 'number' and add it to 'answer'
         'number' is now 1 and 'answer' is 6
Step 4: 'number' still has digits, go back to step 2
Step 2: 'answer' is multiplied by 2 - it becomes 12
Step 3: Remove the leftmost digit of 'number' and add it to 'answer'
         'number' is now "" (empty) and 'answer' is 13
Step 4: 'number' is empty. We are done, the 'answer' is 13.
As mentioned earlier, the advantage of this algorithm is that it very easily converts into relatively simple computer code. To demonstrate that, the algorithm is implemented in Python in the codelens below. You DO NOT need to worry about exactly how the Python language works. You will notice that turning the English algorithm above into code requires some changes, but the code shown follows the same process described above. See the “tips” box below the code lens for help running the program.
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Note 4.3.1.

How to use the “codelens”
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  • You can click the “forward” button to watch the code run line by line.
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  • Use can use the large gray scroll bar beneath the code to scroll the code to the right - at the end of each line of code is an explanation of what that line “says”
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  • The blue “Global frame” area that appears at the bottom will display the current value of number and answer.
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Checkpoint 4.3.2.

If you use the division method to convert 49 to binary, how many times do you have to do step 2?
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  • You are dividing by 2 until you reach 0. 5 divisions won’t get you there
  • You are dividing by 2 until you reach 0. 4 divisions won’t get you there
  • 49
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  • You are dividing by 2 until you reach 0. don’t need that many divisions
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