Topic 1

NUMBER BASES

Key Words

Base

Binary

Decimal

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

i) identify numerals in base(s) up to base 16.

ii) identify place values of different bases using abacus.

iii) convert numbers from one base to another.

iv) manipulate numbers in different bases with respect to all four

operations.

Introduction

I Am an ordinary person, how many fingers do I have on:

i) one hand?

ii) two hands?

If you have heaps of oranges of ten, twelve and fifteen, how many groups of tens, fives and fours do you get in each? And how many are remaining in each heap?

In order to answer the above questions, you can use your knowledge of decimal place value to develop your understanding of numbers written in other bases.

Sub-topic 1. 1: Identifying numbers of different

bases on an abacus

In your primary education, you studied number bases such as bases five, two and ten (decimal base). Remember the numerals for all the various number bases you studied by doing the following activity:

Activity 1. 1: Getting familiar with number bases

In your groups, identify situations in which you have ever used number bases in your life.