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Converting Between Hexadecimal & Denary

Exam code: 2210
Written by: Ashika|Reviewed by: Caroline Carroll|Updated 2 July 2026

Denary to Hexadecimal Conversion

Denary to Hexadecimal Conversion

How do you convert denary to hexadecimal?

Method 1 (denary to binary to hexadecimal) 

128

64

32

16

8

4

2

1

0

0

0

1

1

1

0

0

  • Split the 8 bit binary number into two nibbles as shown below

8

4

2

1

 

 

8

4

2

1

0

0

0

1

1

1

0

0

  • Convert each nibble to its denary value

  • 0001 = 1 and 1100 = 12

  • Using the comparison table, the denary value 1 is also 1 in hexadecimal whereas denary value 12 is represented in hexadecimal as C

  • Denary 28 is 1C in hexadecimal

Method 2 (divide by 16)

  • To convert the denary number 163 to hexadecimal, start by dividing the denary value by 16 and recording the whole times the number goes in and the remainder

  • 163 ➗16 = 10 remainder 3

  • In hexadecimal the whole number = digit 1 and the remainder = digit 2

  • Digit 1 = 10 (A)

  • Digit 2 = 3

  • Denary 163 is A3 in hexadecimal

Hexadecimal to Denary Conversion

Hexadecimal to Denary Conversion

How do you convert hexadecimal to denary?

Method 1 (hexadecimal to binary to denary)

  • To convert the hexadecimal number B9 to denary, take each hexadecimal digit and convert it from its denary value to 4 bit binary (nibble)

B (11)

 

 

 

9

8

4

2

1

8

4

2

1

1

0

1

1

1

0

0

1

  • Join the two nibbles to make an 8 bit number (byte)

  • Convert from binary to denary

128

64

32

16

8

4

2

1

1

0

1

1

1

0

0

1

  • (1 x 128) + (1 x 32) + (1 x 16) + (1 x 8) + (1 x 1) = 185

  • Hexadecimal B9 is 185 in denary

Method 2 (multiply by 16)

  • To convert the hexadecimal number 79 to denary, start by multiplying the first hexadecimal digit by 16

  • 7 ✖ 16 = 112

  • Add digit 2 to the result

  • 112 + 9 = 121

  • Hexadecimal 79 is 121 in denary