Computer Number System Questions with Solutions
Computers store and process all data in binary, using only the digits 0 and 1. This topic covers the four number systems used in computing: binary (base 2), octal (base 8), decimal (base 10) and hexadecimal (base 16, using digits 0 to 9 and letters A to F). It covers converting numbers between these systems, binary arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division), and complements (1's and 2's complement) used to represent negative numbers. The fastest conversions go through binary. Each octal digit equals a group of three binary digits, and each hexadecimal digit equals a group of four. To convert decimal to binary, divide by 2 repeatedly and read the remainders from bottom to top. Character encoding schemes such as ASCII and Unicode are also covered at a basic level. Practise the computer number system questions below, each with a step-by-step conversion.
- Q1.
Consider the following statements about the range of numbers in a 9-bit 1's complement and 2's complement system.
A. I and II onlyB. II and III onlyC. I and III onlyD. I, II and IIImediumAsked in NIMCET 2026View solution › - Q2.
The multiplication of the two binary numbers and in binary notation is:
A. B. C. D.easyAsked in NIMCET 2026View solution › - Q3.
An embedded computer uses 8-bit 2's complement representation for signed integers. What is the minimum negative integer value that can be represented in this computer?
A. 0, i.e. no negative integers can be representedB. −8C. −128D. −256easyAsked in NIMCET 2026View solution › - Q4.
Which one of the following is the decimal equivalent of the 8-bit two's complement number ?
A. −45B. −44C. −211D. +211easyAsked in NIMCET 2026View solution › - Q5.
What is the binary equivalent of the decimal number 13?
A. 1101B. 1011C. 1110D. 1001easyAsked in MAH MCA CET 2025View solution › - Q6.
What is the result of the binary subtraction 1100 − 1010 using 2’s complement?
A. 0010B. 0100C. 1010D. 1110mediumAsked in MAH MCA CET 2025View solution › - Q7.
Convert the decimal number into binary.
A. B. C. D.easyAsked in MAH MCA CET 2025View solution › - Q8.
How many bits are used to represent a character in ASCII encoding?
A. 7B. 8C. 16D. 32mediumAsked in MAH MCA CET 2025View solution › - Q9.
What is the hexadecimal representation of the binary number ?
A. B. C. D.easyAsked in MAH MCA CET 2025View solution › - Q10.
How would you represent 10111 in the decimal number system?
A. 24B. 23C. 25D. 22easyAsked in MAH MCA CET 2024View solution › - Q11.
The 1's complement of 100 is ____.
A. 100B. 111C. 011D. 010easyAsked in MAH MCA CET 2024View solution › - Q12.
The minimum and maximum values represented in signed 16-bit 2's complement representation are
A. -32768 and 32767B. 0 and 32767C. 0 and 65535D. -16384 and 16383easyAsked in NIMCET 2023View solution › - Q13.
The binary equivalent of the decimal number is
A. B. C. D.easyAsked in NIMCET 2023View solution › - Q14.
A 10-bit computer uses 10-bit integers in 2's complement representation. The representation of -35 is
A. 0000100011B. 1100100011C. 1111011101D. 1111011111easyAsked in NIMCET 2023View solution › - Q15.
A 10-bit computer uses a 10-bit floating point unit (IEEE floating-point arithmetic with 1 sign bit, 5 exponent bits and 4 fraction bits). The representation of +∞ (plus infinity) is
A. 0 11111 1111B. 1 11111 0000C. 0 00000 1111D. 0 11111 0000easyAsked in NIMCET 2023View solution › - Q16.
What is a potential problem of the 1's complement representation of numbers?
A. Binary subtraction is not possibleB. Binary addition is not possibleC. Multiplication of two numbers cannot be carried outD. There are two different representations of zeroeasyAsked in NIMCET 2023View solution › - Q17.
In present-day computing, which code is used and accepted worldwide?
A. ASCIIB. Hollerith CodeC. EBCDICD. ISCIIeasyAsked in TCS ExamView solution › - Q18.
Computers process binary numbers, which are composed of
A. 1s and 2sB. 1s and 10sC. 2s and 3sD. 0s and 1seasyAsked in TCS ExamView solution › - Q19.
The binary code in which bits are arranged in such a way that only one bit changes at a time when a change is made from one number to the next is called______.
A. ASCIIB. Gray codeC. EBCDICD. Hex codemediumAsked in TCS ExamView solution › - Q20.
Which of the following binary operations would give 101011 as the result? (All numbers in this question are in the binary number system.)
A. 100010+ 11001B. 110101-1010C. 101111-1100D. 100101 + 1010mediumAsked in TCS ExamView solution ›