AQA Computer Science GCSE
Data Representation – Hexadecimal Numbers
There's another way of counting you need to know about...
Let's start with the idea of number bases
Number bases – what are they and the ones you need to know
Why use hexadecimal – why we use base 16
Hexadecimal Numbers
Hexadecimal numbers use base 16 - so you can use one digit to county up to 15. The letters A to F are added on after 9, so A = 10, B = 11 and so on until F = 15. That gives you 16 possible values - including the 0.
Hexadecimal intro – a single slide
Hexadecimal isn't used by computers, but it is an easy thing for humans to use when we're trying to talk in binary. And it converts really easily.
Just remember that A = 10.
Hexadecimal basics – notes on how it all works
The 16 times table – and how not to panic when doing the maths
One really important thing to remember is that the hexadecimal number FF = 255 - which is the same as the 8 bit binary number 11111111. So, 255 is the largest number which can be represented using 8 bit binary (a byte) and a 2 digit hexadecimal number.
Just remember that A = 10 and F = 15. It's really easy to get into thinking that A is 11 and F is 16. It's not! Get this right and hexadecimal is a piece of cake.
Conversions using Hexadecimal
You need to be able to convert from:
- hexadecimal to 8 bit binary
- 8 bit binary to hexadecimal
- decimal to hexadecimal
- hexadecimal to decimal
Converting Hex to Binary/Binary to Hex – the methods
Questions: Hex to Binary/Binary to Hex (answers)
Converting to and from decimal is harder than to and from binary...
Converting Hex to Decimal/Decimal to Hex – the methods
Questions: Hex to Decimal/Decimal to Hex (answers)
Here are some photos taken in class which summarise the methods:
Revision
There's likely to be one or two marks on hexadecimal on the exam.
Hexadecimal questions – some hex conversion questions
Answers – don't cheat, try and work things out first
The BBC Bitesize website has a section on hexadecimal
that you might want to look at. Well worth a look.
In October 2020 I made this video when the school was closed for a week or so due to some virus or other and we had to teach online. It tries to explain everything about hexadecimal so might be helpful for revision.