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Last updated on August 17, 2025
147 in binary is written as 10010011 because the binary system uses only two digits, 0 and 1, to represent numbers. This number system is widely used in computer systems. In this topic, we are going to learn about the binary representation of 147.
The process of converting 147 from decimal to binary involves dividing the number 147 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 147 to binary. In the last step, the remainder is noted down bottom side up, and that becomes the converted binary value.
For example, the remainders noted down after dividing 147 by 2 until getting 0 as the quotient is 10010011. 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 10010011.
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 10010011 in binary is indeed 147 in the decimal number system.
147 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 147 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. 2^0 = 1 2^1 = 2 2^2 = 4 2^3 = 8 2^4 = 16 2^5 = 32 2^6 = 64 2^7 = 128 2^8 = 256 Since 256 is greater than 147, we stop at 2^7 = 128.
Step 2 - Identify the largest power of 2: In the previous step, we stopped at 2^7 = 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, 147. Since 2^7 is the number we are looking for, write 1 in the 2^7 place. Now the value of 2^7, which is 128, is subtracted from 147. 147 - 128 = 19.
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, 19. So, the next largest power of 2 is 2^4, which is less than or equal to 19. Now, we have to write 1 in the 2^4 place. And then subtract 16 from 19. 19 - 16 = 3.
Step 4 - Identify the next largest power of 2: For 3, the largest power of 2 is 2^1. Now, we have to write 1 in the 2^1 place. And then subtract 2 from 3. 3 - 2 = 1.
Step 5 - Identify the next largest power of 2: For 1, the largest power of 2 is 2^0. 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 6 - Identify the unused place values: In steps 2, 3, 4, and 5, we wrote 1 in the 2^7, 2^4, 2^1, and 2^0 places. Now, we can just write 0s in the remaining places, which are 2^6, 2^5, 2^3, and 2^2. 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 1 in the 2^4 place 0 in the 2^3 place 0 in the 2^2 place 1 in the 2^1 place 1 in the 2^0 place
Step 7 - Write the values in reverse order: We now write the numbers upside down to represent 147 in binary. Therefore, 10010011 is 147 in binary.
Grouping Method: In this method, we divide the number 147 by 2. Let us see the step-by-step conversion.
Step 1 - Divide the given number 147 by 2. 147 / 2 = 73. Here, 73 is the quotient and 1 is the remainder.
Step 2 - Divide the previous quotient (73) by 2. 73 / 2 = 36. Here, the quotient is 36 and the remainder is 1.
Step 3 - Repeat the previous step. 36 / 2 = 18. Now, the quotient is 18, and 0 is the remainder.
Step 4 - Repeat the previous step. 18 / 2 = 9. Here, the remainder is 0.
Step 5 - Repeat the previous step. 9 / 2 = 4. Here, the remainder is 1.
Step 6 - Repeat the previous step. 4 / 2 = 2. Here, the remainder is 0.
Step 7 - Repeat the previous step. 2 / 2 = 1. Here, the remainder is 0.
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, 147 (decimal) = 10010011 (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 147. Since the answer is 27, write 1 next to this power of 2. Subtract the value (128) from 147. So, 147 - 128 = 19. Find the largest power of 2 less than or equal to 19. The answer is 24. So, write 1 next to this power. Now, 19 - 16 = 3. Find the largest power of 2 less than or equal to 3. The answer is 21. So, write 1 next to this power. Now, 3 - 2 = 1. Find the largest power of 2 less than or equal to 1. The answer is 20. 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 (26, 25, 23, and 22). Final conversion will be 10010011.
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, 147 is divided by 2 to get 73 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Now, 73 is divided by 2. Here, we will get 36 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Dividing 36 by 2, we get 18 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Dividing 18 by 2, we get 9 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Dividing 9 by 2, we get 4 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Dividing 4 by 2, we get 2 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Dividing 2 by 2, we get 1 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Divide 1 by 2 to get 1 as the remainder and 0 as the quotient. We stop the division once the quotient becomes 0. Now, we write the remainders upside down to get the binary equivalent of 147, 10010011.
This rule also involves breaking of the number into powers of 2. Identify the powers of 2 and write it down in decreasing order, i.e., 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, and 20. Find the largest power that fits into 147. 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 147, we use 0s for 26, 25, 23, and 22, and 1s for 27, 24, 21, 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 147.
Memorize to speed up conversions: We can memorize the binary forms for numbers 1 to 147.
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 …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, 146 is even and its binary form is 10010010. Here, the binary of 146 ends in 0. If the number is odd, then its binary equivalent will end in 1. For example, the binary of 147 (an odd number) is 10010011. 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 147 from decimal to binary using the place value method.
10010011
27 is the largest power of 2, which is less than or equal to 147.
So place 1 next to 27.
Subtracting 128 from 147, we get 19.
So, the next largest power would be 24.
So place another 1 next to 24.
Now, subtracting 16 from 19, we get 3.
The next largest power is 21, so place 1 next to 21.
Now, subtracting 2 from 3, we get 1.
The largest power for 1 is 20, so place 1 next to 20.
Now, we just place 0s in the remaining powers of 2, which are 26, 25, 23, and 22.
By using this method, we can find the binary form of 147.
Convert 147 from decimal to binary using the division by 2 method.
10010011
Divide 147 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 147 to binary using the representation method.
10010011
Break the number 147 into powers of 2 and find the largest powers of 2.
We get 27. So 1 is placed next to 27.
Next, 147 - 128 = 19.
Now, the largest power of 2 is 24.
Once again, 1 is placed next to 24.
Now, 19 - 16 = 3.
The next largest power is 21, so place 1 next to 21.
Now, subtracting 2 from 3, we get 1.
The largest power for 1 is 20, so place 1 next to 20.
After getting 0, fill in with zeros for unused powers of 2.
By following this method, we get the binary value of 147 as 10010011.
How is 147 written in decimal, octal, and binary form?
Decimal form - 147 Octal - 223 Binary - 10010011
The decimal system is also called the base 10 system.
In this system, 147 is written as 147 only.
We have already seen how 147 is written as 10010011 in binary.
So, let us focus on the octal system, which is base 8.
To convert 147 to octal, we need to divide 147 by 8.
So 147 / 8 = 18 with 3 as the remainder.
In the next step, divide the quotient from the previous step (18) by 8.
So 18 / 8 = 2 with 2 as the remainder.
The division process stops here because the quotient is now 0.
Here, 3 and 2 are the remainders, and they have to be written in reverse order.
So, 223 is the octal equivalent of 147.
Express 147 - 5 in binary.
100010
147 - 5 = 142 So, we need to write 142 in binary.
Start by dividing 142 by 2.
We get 71 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder.
Next, divide 71 by 2.
Now we get 35 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder.
Divide 35 by 2 to get 17 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder.
Continue this process until the quotient becomes 0.
Now write the remainders from bottom to top to get 10001110 (binary of 142).
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.