How do you pronounce numbers in bases other than ten?

Answer 1

Frankly, to avoid confusion in my classes, I just pronounce the digits one at a time. 43 is "forty-three" in base ten, but I pronounce 43(base 5) as "four three base five." The kids in my upper level classes are used to this style when having had to pronounce binary or hexadecimal numbers, and the consistency seems to work in other bases.

Answer 2

If they look like a decimal number they are pronounced the same. Binary numbers are usually stated a digit at a time. If a number in a base above 10 includes a letter then it is stated a digit at a time. You must also state the base if it is not 10.

For example 45 in base 8 is forty-five in base eight.

Answer 3

It varies among different bases. In binary, you probably would just use the ones and zeros. In hexadecimal, the same would hold in that you simply read off the digits. This can apply to any base.

One base of interest is base twelve. The digits for ten and eleven are pronounced "dek" and "el". When you use two digit numbers, one could use the term "do" (short for dozen) for twelve so that 86 in base ten would be 72 (seven-do two) in base twelve. When three digits are used, the term "gro" (short for gross, or 144). Thus 666 base ten becomes 476 (four-gro seven-do six) in base twelve.

Answer 4

Bases other than 10 is e

Answer 5

Louise with the nice legs had a good answer.

As for pronouncing the numbers the same way--eg, pronouncing 86 base 9 as "eighty-six"---well there are some problems with that.


The "ty" in "forty","fifty", "eighty", etc.--comes from an old root meaning "ten".

So 66 in base 9 might better be prounounced "sixny-six" (or something.), where "ny" is an invented syllable for "nine".


Base eight could be pronounced, I don't know, "ay" as in ("day")
twenay, thiray, fouray, etc.

Base sixteen could be hex. thirhex. thirhex-one, thirhex-two, etc.

And then there's the issue of hundreds, and thousands, etc.

So on second thought, I'll vote for Louise's answer. Just pronounce each digit's name.

Answer 6

Be aware that the hexadecimal system, base 16, used in the computer industry, you use the letters A through F for 10 through 15. And you pronounce the letters as before.

Answer 7

Yes, they're pronounced the same. But it's also common convention to add the words "base ** " after the number. For example the hex value 92764 would be spoken as "nine two seven six four base 16" or "nine two seven six four hex"


Doug

Answer 8

10 is an arbitrary base, yet 17 might want to be more desirable frustrating because it really is correct (and tremendous). Bases that are powers of two are uncomplicated to artwork with, so that you will be able to apply base 8 or base 16 properly in case you practiced.

Answer 9

They're pronounced exactly the same.

86 in base ten is eighty six.

In base 8 it converts to "one hundred and twenty six"

In base 5 it converts to "three hundred and twenty one" etc etc

Answer 10

Verbally pronounce? The same way.

i.e. in binary (base 2) 0001 is still 1, 0010 is still 2
i.e. in hex (base 16), 0x0F is still 15