Itanium® Architecture for Programmers: Understanding 64-Bit Processors and EPIC Principles

1.8. Review of Number Systems

Throughout this book we use the decimal (base 10), binary (base 2), octal (base 8), and hexadecimal (base 16) number systems. A concise review of number systems and representations for integer data will conclude this introductory chapter. You should skip this material only if you are already adept with conversions among these representations, including expressions of negative integer values.

All data stored and manipulated in contemporary computers exist in binary form. Integers, floating-point numbers, characters, and instructions exist as sequences of zeros and ones. This binary representation is base 2.

When we display binary data, we usually use base 8 (octal), base 10 (decimal), or base 16 (hexadecimal), instead ...