Computer Number System Questions with Solutions

112 questions71 easy40 medium1 hard

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.

  1. Q41.

    Floating point numbers in a computer are represented using a -bit mantissa (including a sign bit) and a -bit exponent (including a sign bit). What is the approximate value of the maximum number which can be represented? Assume that the mantissa is stored in the normalised form, that is, without leading zeroes.

    A. B. C. D.
    mediumAsked in NIMCET 2008View solution ›
  2. Q42.

    The addition of 4-bit, 2's complement binary numbers and results in

    A. and an overflowB. and no overflowC. and no overflowD. and an overflow
    easyAsked in NIMCET 2008View solution ›
  3. Q43.

    Given , the value of the radix is

    A. B. C. D.
    mediumAsked in NIMCET 2008 +1View solution ›
  4. Q44.

    Let and be two 8-bit 2's complement numbers. Their product in 2's complement is

    A. B. C. D.
    mediumAsked in NIMCET 2008View solution ›
  5. Q45.

    The decimal equivalent of is:

    A. 43B. 47C. 45D. 54
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  6. Q46.

    The hexadecimal equivalent of is:

    A. B. C. D.
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  7. Q47.

    The binary equivalent of is:

    A. B. C. D.
    easyView solution ›
  8. Q48.

    Which of the following is NOT a valid octal number?

    A. 2981B. 1234C. 7650D. 4057
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  9. Q49.

    The decimal equivalent of is:

    A. 35B. 41C. 37D. 39
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  10. Q50.

    The decimal equivalent of is:

    A. 256B. 254C. 127D. 255
    easyView solution ›
  11. Q51.

    The decimal equivalent of is:

    A. 412B. 404C. 421D. 432
    easyView solution ›
  12. Q52.

    The decimal equivalent of is:

    A. 984B. 1000C. 1008D. 998
    easyView solution ›
  13. Q53.

    The decimal equivalent of is:

    A. 0.75B. 0.11C. 0.5D. 0.375
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  14. Q54.

    The decimal equivalent of is:

    A. 10.75B. 10.12C. 10.6D. 11.75
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  15. Q55.

    The binary equivalent of is:

    A. 1100101B. 1010011C. 1100111D. 1100011
    easyView solution ›
  16. Q56.

    The binary equivalent of is:

    A. 11111111B. 100000000C. 10000000D. 1000000000
    easyView solution ›
  17. Q57.

    The octal equivalent of is:

    A. 513B. 351C. 531D. 541
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  18. Q58.

    The hexadecimal equivalent of is:

    A. 2DEB. 2EFC. 3EED. 2EE
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  19. Q59.

    The octal equivalent of is:

    A. 0.375B. 0.3C. 0.6D. 0.03
    mediumView solution ›
  20. Q60.

    The binary equivalent of is:

    A. 110.001B. 110.01C. 110.101D. 101.001
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