Summarize this article:
Last updated on August 21, 2025
165 in binary is written as 10100101 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 165 in the binary system.
The process of converting 165 from decimal to binary involves dividing the number 165 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 165 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 165 by 2 until getting 0 as the quotient is 10100101. 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 165.
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 10100101 in binary is indeed 165 in the decimal number system.
165 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 165 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 165, 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, 165. 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 165. 165 - 128 = 37.
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, 37. So, the next largest power of 2 is 25, which is less than or equal to 37. Now, we have to write 1 in the 25 place. And then subtract 32 from 37. 37 - 32 = 5.
Step 4 - 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, 5. So, the next largest power of 2 is 22, which is less than or equal to 5. Now, we have to write 1 in the 22 place. And then subtract 4 from 5. 5 - 4 = 1.
Step 5 - 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 20, which is less than or equal to 1. Now, we have to write 1 in the 20 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 previous steps, we wrote 1 in the 27, 25, 22, and 20 places. Now, we can just write 0s in the remaining places, which are 26, 24, 23, and 21. Now, by substituting the values, we get: 0 in the 26 place 1 in the 25 place 0 in the 24 place 0 in the 23 place 1 in the 22 place 0 in the 21 place 1 in the 20 place
Step 7 - Write the values in reverse order: We now write the numbers upside down to represent 165 in binary. Therefore, 10100101 is 165 in binary.
Grouping Method: In this method, we divide the number 165 by 2. Let us see the step-by-step conversion.
Step 1 - Divide the given number 165 by 2. 165 / 2 = 82. Here, 82 is the quotient and 1 is the remainder.
Step 2 - Divide the previous quotient (82) by 2. 82 / 2 = 41. Here, the quotient is 41 and the remainder is 0.
Step 3 - Repeat the previous step. 41 / 2 = 20. Now, the quotient is 20, and 1 is the remainder.
Step 4 - Repeat the previous step. 20 / 2 = 10. Here, the quotient is 10, and 0 is the remainder.
Step 5 - Repeat the previous step. 10 / 2 = 5. Here, the quotient is 5, and 0 is the remainder.
Step 6 - Repeat the previous step. 5 / 2 = 2. Here, the quotient is 2, and 1 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, 165 (decimal) = 10100101 (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 165. Since the answer is 27, write 1 next to this power of 2. Subtract the value (128) from 165. So, 165 - 128 = 37. Find the largest power of 2 less than or equal to 37. The answer is 25. So, write 1 next to this power. Now, 37 - 32 = 5. Find the largest power of 2 less than or equal to 5. The answer is 22. So, write 1 next to this power. Now, 5 - 4 = 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, 24, 23, and 21). Final conversion will be 10100101.
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, 165 is divided by 2 to get 82 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Now, 82 is divided by 2. Here, we will get 41 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Dividing 41 by 2, we get 20 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Divide 20 by 2 to get 10 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Continue dividing until the quotient becomes 0. Now, we write the remainders upside down to get the binary equivalent of 165, 10100101.
This rule also involves breaking 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 165. 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 165, we use 0s for 26, 24, 23, and 21, and 1s for 27, 25, 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 165.
Memorize to speed up conversions: We can memorize the binary forms for numbers 1 to 165.
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, 10 is even and its binary form is 1010. Here, the binary of 10 ends in 0. If the number is odd, then its binary equivalent will end in 1. For example, the binary of 17 (an odd number) is 10001. 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 165 from decimal to binary using the place value method.
10100101
27 is the largest power of 2, which is less than or equal to 165.
So place 1 next to 27.
Subtracting 128 from 165, we get 37.
So the next largest power would be 25.
So place another 1 next to 25.
Subtracting 32 from 37, we get 5.
Next, the largest power is 22.
So place another 1 next to 22.
Subtracting 4 from 5, we get 1.
Finally, the largest power that fits is 20.
Place 1 next to 20.
Now, we just place 0s in the remaining powers of 2, which are 26, 24, 23, and 21.
By using this method, we can find the binary form of 165.
Convert 165 from decimal to binary using the division by 2 method.
10100101
Divide 165 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 165 to binary using the representation method.
10100101
Break the number 165 into powers of 2 and find the largest powers of 2.
We get 27.
So 1 is placed next to 27.
Next, 165 - 128 = 37.
Now, the largest power of 2 is 25.
Once again, 1 is placed next to 25.
Subtracting 32 from 37, we get 5.
The largest power of 2 is 22, so place 1 next to 22.
Subtracting 4 from 5, we get 1.
Finally, the largest power of 2 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 165 as 10100101.
How is 165 written in decimal, octal, and binary form?
Decimal form - 165 Octal - 245 Binary - 10100101
The decimal system is also called the base 10 system.
In this system, 165 is written as 165 only.
To convert 165 to binary, we have seen it is 10100101.
For the octal system, which is base 8, we divide 165 by 8.
165 / 8 = 20 with 5 as the remainder.
In the next step, divide the quotient (20) by 8.
20 / 8 = 2 with 4 as the remainder.
Finally, divide 2 by 8 to get 0 as the quotient and 2 as the remainder.
Write the remainders in reverse order to get the octal equivalent: 245.
Express 165 - 45 in binary.
1101000
165 - 45 = 120 So, we need to write 120 in binary.
Start by dividing 120 by 2. We get 60 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder.
Next, divide 60 by 2. Now we get 30 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder.
Divide 30 by 2 to get 15 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder.
Divide 15 by 2 to get 7 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder.
Divide 7 by 2 to get 3 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder.
Divide 3 by 2 to get 1 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder.
Finally, divide 1 by 2 to get 0 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder.
Write the remainders from bottom to top to get 1111000 (binary of 120).
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.