Types of data representation
- Computers not only process numbers, letters and special symbols but also complex types of data such as sound and pictures. However, these complex types of data take a lot of memory and processor time when coded in binary form.
- This limitation necessitates the need to develop better ways of handling long streams of binary digits.
- Higher number systems are used in computing to reduce these streams of binary digits into manageable form. This helps to improve the processing speed and optimize memory usage.
Number systems and their representation
- A number system is a set of symbols used to represent values derived from a common base or radix.
- As far as computers are concerned, number systems can be classified into two major categories:
- decimal number system
- binary number system
- octal number system
- hexadecimal number system
Decimal number system
- The term decimal is derived from a Latin prefix deci, which means ten. Decimal number system has ten digits ranging from 0-9. Because this system has ten digits; it is also called a base ten number system or denary number system.
- A decimal number should always be written with a subscript 10 e.g. X10
- But since this is the most widely used number system in the world, the subscript is usually understood and ignored in written work. However ,when many number systems are considered together, the subscript must always be put so as to differentiate the number systems.
- The magnitude of a number can be considered using these parameters.
- Absolute value
- Place value or positional value
- Base value
- The absolute value is the magnitude of a digit in a number. for example the digit 5 in 7458 has an absolute value of 5 according to its value in the number line.
- The place value of a digit in a number refers to the position of the digit in that number i.e. whether; tens, hundreds, thousands etc.
- The total value of a number is the sum of the place value of each digit making the number.
- The base value of a number also k known as the radix, depends on the type of the number systems that is being used .The value of any number depends on the radix. for example the number 10010 is not equivalent to 1002.