Last updated on 13 August 2025
189 in binary is written as 10111101 because the binary system uses only two digits, 0 and 1, to represent numbers. This number system is used widely in computer systems. In this topic, we are going to learn about the binary representation of 189.
The process of converting 189 from decimal to binary involves dividing the number 189 by 2. Here, it is getting divided by 2 because the binary number system uses only 2 digits (0 and 1). The quotient becomes the dividend in the next step, and the process continues until the quotient becomes 0.
This is a commonly used method to convert 189 to binary. In the last step, the remainder is noted down bottom side up, and that becomes the converted value.
For example, the remainders noted down after dividing 189 by 2 until getting 0 as the quotient is 10111101. Remember, the remainders here have been written upside down.
In the table shown below, the first column shows the binary digits (1 and 0) as 10111101.
The second column represents the place values of each digit, and the third column is the value calculation, where the binary digits are multiplied by their corresponding place values.
The results of the third column can be added to cross-check if 10111101 in binary is indeed 189 in the decimal number system.
189 can be converted easily from decimal to binary. The methods mentioned below will help us convert the number. Let’s see how it is done.
Expansion Method: Let us see the step-by-step process of converting 189 using the expansion method.
Step 1 - Figure out the place values: In the binary system, each place value is a power of 2. Therefore, in the first step, we will ascertain the powers of 2.
20 = 1
21 = 2
22 = 4
23 = 8
24 = 16
25 = 32
26 = 64
27 = 128
28 = 256 Since 256 is greater than 189, we stop at 27 = 128.
Step 2 - Identify the largest power of 2: In the previous step, we stopped at 27 = 128.
This is because in this step, we have to identify the largest power of 2, which is less than or equal to the given number, 189.
Since 2^7 is the number we are looking for, write 1 in the 27 place.
Now the value of 27, which is 128, is subtracted from 189. 189 - 128 = 61.
Step 3 - Identify the next largest power of 2: In this step, we need to find the largest power of 2 that fits into the result of the previous step, 61.
So, the next largest power of 2 is 25 = 32.
Now, we have to write 1 in the 25 place.
And then subtract 32 from 61. 61 - 32 = 29.
Step 4 - Identify the next largest power of 2: The next largest power of 2 that fits into 29 is 24 = 16. Write 1 in the 24 place. Subtract 16 from 29. 29 - 16 = 13.
Step 5 - Identify the next largest power of 2: The next largest power of 2 that fits into 13 is 23 = 8. Write 1 in the 23 place. Subtract 8 from 13. 13 - 8 = 5.
Step 6 - Identify the next largest power of 2: The next largest power of 2 that fits into 5 is 22 = 4. Write 1 in the 22 place. Subtract 4 from 5. 5 - 4 = 1.
Step 7 - Identify the next largest power of 2: The next largest power of 2 that fits into 1 is 20 = 1. Write 1 in the 20 place. Subtract 1 from 1. 1 - 1 = 0.
Step 8 - Identify the unused place values: In step 2 through step 7, we wrote 1 in the 27, 25, 24, 23, 22, and 20 places.
Now, we can just write 0s in the remaining places, which are 26 and 21.
Now, by substituting the values, we get, 1 in the 20 place 0 in the 21 place 1 in the 22 place 1 in the 23 place 1 in the 24 place 1 in the 25 place 0 in the 26 place 1 in the 27 place
Step 9 - Write the values in reverse order: We now write the numbers upside down to represent 189 in binary. Therefore, 10111101 is 189 in binary.
Grouping Method: In this method, we divide the number 189 by 2. Let us see the step-by-step conversion.
Step 1 - Divide the given number 189 by 2. 189 / 2 = 94. Here, 94 is the quotient and 1 is the remainder.
Step 2 - Divide the previous quotient (94) by 2. 94 / 2 = 47. Here, the quotient is 47 and the remainder is 0.
Step 3 - Repeat the previous step. 47 / 2 = 23. Now, the quotient is 23, and 1 is the remainder.
Step 4 - Repeat the previous step. 23 / 2 = 11. Here, the remainder is 1, and the quotient is 11.
Step 5 - Repeat the previous step. 11 / 2 = 5. Here, the remainder is 1, and the quotient is 5.
Step 6 - Repeat the previous step. 5 / 2 = 2. Here, the remainder is 1, and the quotient is 2.
Step 7 - Repeat the previous step. 2 / 2 = 1. Here, the remainder is 0, and the quotient is 1.
Step 8 - Repeat the previous step. 1 / 2 = 0. Here, the remainder is 1. And we stop the division here because the quotient is 0.
Step 9 - Write down the remainders from bottom to top.
Therefore, 189 (decimal) = 10111101 (binary).
There are certain rules to follow when converting any number to binary. Some of them are mentioned below:
This is one of the most commonly used rules to convert any number to binary. The place value method is the same as the expansion method, where we need to find the largest power of 2. Let’s see a brief step-by-step explanation to understand the first rule.
Find the largest power of 2 less than or equal to 189.
Since the answer is 27, write 1 next to this power of 2.
Subtract the value (128) from 189. So, 189 - 128 = 61.
Find the largest power of 2 less than or equal to 61.
The answer is 25. So, write 1 next to this power.
Now, 61 - 32 = 29.
Continue this process until the remainder is 0. Final conversion will be 10111101.
The division by 2 method is the same as the grouping method. A brief step-by-step explanation is given below for better understanding.
First, 189 is divided by 2 to get 94 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder.
Now, 94 is divided by 2.
Here, we will get 47 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder.
Dividing 47 by 2, we get 23 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder.
Continue this process until the quotient is 0.
Now, we write the remainders upside down to get the binary equivalent of 189, 10111101.
This rule also involves breaking of the number into powers of 2.
Identify the powers of 2 and write them down in decreasing order, i.e., 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, and 20.
Find the largest power that fits into 189.
Repeat the process and allocate 1s and 0s to the suitable powers of 2.
Combine the digits (0 and 1) to get the binary result.
The limitation of the binary system is that only 0s and 1s can be used to represent numbers.
The system doesn’t use any other digits other than 0 and 1.
This is a base 2 number system, where the binary places represent powers of 2.
So, every digit is either a 0 or a 1.
To convert 189, we use 0s for 26 and 21 and 1s for 27, 25, 24, 23, 22, and 20.
Learning a few tips and tricks is a great way to solve any mathematical problems easily. Let us take a look at some tips and tricks for binary numbers up to 189.
Memorize to speed up conversions: We can memorize the binary forms for numbers 1 to 20.
Recognize the patterns: There is a peculiar pattern when converting numbers from decimal to binary.
1 → 1
1 + 1 = 2 → 10
2 + 2 = 4 → 100
4 + 4 = 8 → 1000
8 + 8 = 16 → 10000
16 + 16 = 32 → 100000…and so on.
This is also called the double and add rule.
Even and odd rule: Whenever a number is even, its binary form will end in 0. For e.g., 189 is odd, and its binary form is 10111101. Here, the binary of 189 ends in 1. If the number is even, then its binary equivalent will end in 0.
For e.g., the binary of 188 (an even number) is 10111100. As you can see, the last digit here is 0. Cross-verify the answers:
Once the conversion is done, we can cross-verify the answers by converting the number back to the decimal form.
This will eliminate any unforeseen errors in conversion.
Practice by using tables: Writing the decimal numbers and their binary equivalents on a table will help us remember the conversions.
Here, let us take a look at some of the most commonly made mistakes while converting numbers to binary.
Convert 189 from decimal to binary using the place value method.
10111101
27 is the largest power of 2, which is less than or equal to 189.
So place 1 next to 27.
Subtracting 128 from 189, we get 61.
So the next largest power would be 25.
So place another 1 next to 25.
Continue the process until the remainder is 0.
Now, we just place 0s in the remaining powers of 2, which are 26 and 21.
By using this method, we can find the binary form of 189.
Convert 189 from decimal to binary using the division by 2 method.
10111101
Divide 189 by 2. In the next step, the quotient becomes the new dividend.
Continue the process until the quotient becomes 0.
Now, write the remainders upside down to get the final result.
Convert 189 to binary using the representation method.
10111101
Break the number 189 into powers of 2 and find the largest powers of 2.
We get 27.
So 1 is placed next to 27. Next, 189 - 128 = 61.
Now, the largest power of 2 is 25.
Once again, 1 is placed next to 25.
Continue this process until the remainder is 0.
After getting 0, fill in with zeros for unused powers of 2.
By following this method, we get the binary value of 189 as 10111101.
How is 189 written in decimal, octal, and binary form?
Decimal form - 189 Octal - 275 Binary - 10111101
The decimal system is also called the base 10 system. In this system, 189 is written as 189 only.
We have already seen how 189 is written as 10111101 in binary.
So, let us focus on the octal system, which is base 8.
To convert 189 to octal, we need to divide 189 by 8. So 189 / 8 = 23 with 5 as the remainder.
In the next step, divide the quotient from the previous step (23) by 8.
So 23 / 8 = 2 with 7 as the remainder.
The division process stops here because the quotient is now 0.
Here, 7 and 5 are the remainders, and they have to be written in reverse order.
So, 275 is the octal equivalent of 189.
Express 189 - 100 in binary.
1011011
189 - 100 = 89 So, we need to write 89 in binary.
Start by dividing 89 by 2.
We get 44 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder.
Next, divide 44 by 2. Now we get 22 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder.
Continue this process until the quotient is 0.
Now write the remainders from bottom to top to get 1011011 (binary of 89).
Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.
: She loves to read number jokes and games.