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Last updated on August 18, 2025
129 in binary is written as 10000001 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 129 in the binary system.
The process of converting 129 from decimal to binary involves dividing the number 129 by 2. Here, it is 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 129 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 129 by 2 until getting 0 as the quotient is 10000001.
Remember, the remainders here have been written upside down.
In the table shown below, the first column shows the binary digits (1 and 0) for 129. 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 10000001 in binary is indeed 129 in the decimal number system.
129 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.
Let us see the step-by-step process of converting 129 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 129, 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, 129. Since 27 is the number we are looking for, write 1 in the 27 place. Now the value of 27, which is 128, is subtracted from 129. 129 - 128 = 1.
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, 1. So, the next largest power of 2 is 2^0, which is less than or equal to 1 (in this case equal). Now, we have to write 1 in the 2^0 place. And then subtract 1 from 1. 1 - 1 = 0. We need to stop the process here since the remainder is 0.
Step 4 - Identify the unused place values: In step 2 and step 3, we wrote 1 in the 2^7 and 2^0 places. Now, we can just write 0s in the remaining places, which are 2^1 to 2^6. Now, by substituting the values, we get, 1 in the 2^7 place 0 in the 2^6 place 0 in the 2^5 place 0 in the 2^4 place 0 in the 2^3 place 0 in the 2^2 place 0 in the 2^1 place 1 in the 2^0 place
Step 5 - Write the values in reverse order: We now write the numbers upside down to represent 129 in binary. Therefore, 10000001 is 129 in binary.
In this method, we divide the number 129 by 2. Let us see the step-by-step conversion.
Step 1 - Divide the given number 129 by 2. 129 / 2 = 64. Here, 64 is the quotient and 1 is the remainder.
Step 2 - Divide the previous quotient (64) by 2. 64 / 2 = 32. Here, the quotient is 32 and the remainder is 0. Step 3 - Repeat the previous step. 32 / 2 = 16. Now, the quotient is 16, and 0 is the remainder.
Step 4 - Repeat the previous step. 16 / 2 = 8. Here, the quotient is 8, and 0 is the remainder.
Step 5 - Repeat the previous step. 8 / 2 = 4. Here, the quotient is 4, and 0 is the remainder.
Step 6 - Repeat the previous step. 4 / 2 = 2. Here, the quotient is 2, and 0 is the remainder.
Step 7 - Repeat the previous step. 2 / 2 = 1. Here, the quotient is 1, and 0 is the remainder.
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, 129 (decimal) = 10000001 (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 129. Since the answer is 2^7, write 1 next to this power of 2. Subtract the value (128) from 129. So, 129 - 128 = 1. Find the largest power of 2 less than or equal to 1. The answer is 2^0. So, write 1 next to this power. Now, 1 - 1 = 0. Since there is no remainder, we can write 0 next to the remaining powers (2^1 to 2^6). Final conversion will be 10000001.
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, 129 is divided by 2 to get 64 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Now, 64 is divided by 2. Here, we will get 32 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Dividing 32 by 2, we get 0 as the remainder and 16 as the quotient. Continuing this process until the quotient is 0. Now, we write the remainders upside down to get the binary equivalent of 129, 10000001.
This rule also involves breaking the number into powers of 2. Identify the powers of 2 and write them down in decreasing order, i.e., 2^7, 2^6, 2^5, 2^4, 2^3, 2^2, 2^1, and 2^0. Find the largest power that fits into 129. 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 129, we use 1s for 2^7 and 2^0 and 0s for 2^1 to 2^6.
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 129.
Memorize to speed up conversions: We can memorize the binary forms for numbers that are powers of 2. 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 example, 128 is even, and its binary form is 10000000. Here, the binary of 128 ends in 0. If the number is odd, then its binary equivalent will end in 1. For example, the binary of 129 (an odd number) is 10000001. As you can see, the last digit here is 1.
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 129 from decimal to binary using the place value method.
10000001
2^7 is the largest power of 2, which is less than or equal to 129. So place 1 next to 2^7. Subtracting 128 from 129, we get 1. So the next largest power would be 2^0. So place another 1 next to 2^0. Now, subtracting 1 from 1, we get 0. Now, we just place 0s in the remaining powers of 2, which are 2^1 to 2^6. By using this method, we can find the binary form of 129.
Convert 129 from decimal to binary using the division by 2 method.
10000001
Divide 129 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 129 to binary using the representation method.
10000001
Break the number 129 into powers of 2 and find the largest powers of 2. We get 2^7. So 1 is placed next to 2^7. Next, 129 - 128 = 1. Now, the largest power of 2 is 2^0. Once again, 1 is placed next to 2^0. Now, 1 - 1 = 0. After getting 0, fill in with zeros for unused powers of 2. By following this method, we get the binary value of 129 as 10000001.
How is 129 written in decimal, octal, and binary form?
Decimal form - 129 Octal - 201 Binary - 10000001
The decimal system is also called the base 10 system. In this system, 129 is written as 129 only. We have already seen how 129 is written as 10000001 in binary. So, let us focus on the octal system, which is base 8. To convert 129 to octal, we need to divide 129 by 8. So 129 / 8 = 16 with 1 as the remainder. In the next step, divide the quotient from the previous step (16) by 8. So 16 / 8 = 2 with 0 as the remainder. Divide 2 by 8, which gives us 0 as the quotient and 2 as the remainder. The division process stops here because the quotient is now 0. Here, 2, 0, and 1 are the remainders, and they have to be written in reverse order. So, 201 is the octal equivalent of 129.
Express 129 - 64 in binary.
1000000
129 - 64 = 65 So, we need to write 65 in binary. Start by dividing 65 by 2. We get 32 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Next, divide 32 by 2. Now we get 16 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Divide 16 by 2 to get 8 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Divide 8 by 2 to get 4 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Divide 4 by 2 to get 2 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Divide 2 by 2 to get 1 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Finally, divide 1 by 2 to get 0 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Now write the remainders from bottom to top to get 1000000 (binary of 65).
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.