Last updated on August 22nd, 2025
196 in binary is written as 11000100 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 196 in binary systems.
The process of converting 196 from decimal to binary involves dividing the number 196 by 2. 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 196 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 196 by 2 until getting 0 as the quotient are 11000100. 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 11000100.
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 11000100 in binary is indeed 196 in the decimal number system.
196 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 196 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 196, 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, 196. 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 196. 196 - 128 = 68.
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, 68. So, the next largest power of 2 is 2^6, which is less than or equal to 68. Now, we have to write 1 in the 2^6 place. And then subtract 64 from 68. 68 - 64 = 4.
Step 4 - Identify the next largest power of 2: The next largest power of 2 that fits into 4 is 2^2. Now, we write 1 in the 2^2 place and subtract 4 from 4. 4 - 4 = 0. We need to stop the process here since the remainder is 0.
Step 5 - Identify the unused place values: In the previous steps, we wrote 1 in the 2^7, 2^6, and 2^2 places. Now, we can just write 0s in the remaining places, which are 2^5, 2^4, 2^3, 2^1, and 2^0. Now, by substituting the values, we get: 0 in the 2^0 place 0 in the 2^1 place 1 in the 2^2 place 0 in the 2^3 place 0 in the 2^4 place 0 in the 2^5 place 1 in the 2^6 place 1 in the 2^7 place
Step 6 - Write the values in reverse order: We now write the numbers upside down to represent 196 in binary. Therefore, 11000100 is 196 in binary.
Grouping Method: In this method, we divide the number 196 by 2. Let us see the step-by-step conversion.
Step 1 - Divide the given number 196 by 2. 196 / 2 = 98. Here, 98 is the quotient and 0 is the remainder.
Step 2 - Divide the previous quotient (98) by 2. 98 / 2 = 49. Here, the quotient is 49 and the remainder is 0.
Step 3 - Repeat the previous step. 49 / 2 = 24. Here, the quotient is 24 and the remainder is 1.
Step 4 - Repeat the previous step. 24 / 2 = 12. Here, the quotient is 12 and the remainder is 0.
Step 5 - Repeat the previous step. 12 / 2 = 6. Here, the quotient is 6 and the remainder is 0.
Step 6 - Repeat the previous step. 6 / 2 = 3. Here, the quotient is 3 and the remainder is 0.
Step 7 - Repeat the previous step. 3 / 2 = 1. Here, the quotient is 1 and the remainder 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, 196 (decimal) = 11000100 (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 196. Since the answer is 2^7, write 1 next to this power of 2. Subtract the value (128) from 196. So, 196 - 128 = 68. Find the largest power of 2 less than or equal to 68. The answer is 2^6. So, write 1 next to this power. Now, 68 - 64 = 4. Find the largest power of 2 less than or equal to 4. The answer is 2^2. So, write 1 next to this power. Now, 4 - 4 = 0. Since there is no remainder, we can write 0 next to the remaining powers (2^5, 2^4, 2^3, 2^1, and 2^0). Final conversion will be 11000100.
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, 196 is divided by 2 to get 98 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Now, 98 is divided by 2. Here, we will get 49 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Dividing 49 by 2, we get 24 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Divide 24 by 2 to get 12 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Divide 12 by 2 to get 6 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Divide 6 by 2 to get 3 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Divide 3 by 2 to get 1 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Divide 1 by 2 to get 0 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. We stop the division once the quotient becomes 0. Now, we write the remainders upside down to get the binary equivalent of 196, 11000100.
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., 2^7, 2^6, 2^5, 2^4, 2^3, 2^2, 2^1, and 2^0. Find the largest power that fits into 196. 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 196, we use 0s for 2^5, 2^4, 2^3, 2^1, and 2^0, and 1s for 2^7, 2^6, and 2^2.
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 196.
Memorize to speed up conversions: We can memorize the binary forms for numbers 1 to 196.
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, 196 is even, and its binary form is 11000100. Here, the binary of 196 ends in 0. If the number is odd, then its binary equivalent will end in 1. For example, the binary of 197 (an odd number) is 11000101. 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 196 from decimal to binary using the place value method.
11000100
2^7 is the largest power of 2, which is less than or equal to 196. So place 1 next to 2^7. Subtracting 128 from 196, we get 68. So the next largest power would be 2^6. So place another 1 next to 2^6. Now, subtracting 64 from 68, we get 4. The next largest power would be 2^2. So place another 1 next to 2^2. Now, subtracting 4 from 4, we get 0. Now, we just place 0s in the remaining powers of 2, which are 2^5, 2^4, 2^3, 2^1, and 2^0. By using this method, we can find the binary form of 196.
Convert 196 from decimal to binary using the division by 2 method.
11000100
Divide 196 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 196 to binary using the representation method.
11000100
Break the number 196 into powers of 2 and find the largest powers of 2. We get 2^7. So 1 is placed next to 2^7. Next, 196 - 128 = 68. Now, the largest power of 2 is 2^6. Once again, 1 is placed next to 2^6. Next, 68 - 64 = 4. The largest power of 2 is 2^2. Once again, 1 is placed next to 2^2. Now, 4 - 4 = 0. After getting 0, fill in with zeros for unused powers of 2. By following this method, we get the binary value of 196 as 11000100.
How is 196 written in decimal, octal, and binary form?
Decimal form - 196 Octal - 304 Binary - 11000100
The decimal system is also called the base 10 system. In this system, 196 is written as 196 only. We have already seen how 196 is written as 11000100 in binary.
So, let us focus on the octal system, which is base 8. To convert 196 to octal, we need to divide 196 by 8. So 196 / 8 = 24 with 4 as the remainder. In the next step, divide the quotient from the previous step (24) by 8. So 24 / 8 = 3 with 0 as the remainder.
Finally, divide 3 by 8 to get 0 as the quotient and 3 as the remainder. The division process stops here because the quotient is now 0. Here, 4, 0, and 3 are the remainders, and they have to be written in reverse order. So, 304 is the octal equivalent of 196.
Express 196 - 5 in binary.
1011111
196 - 5 = 191
So, we need to write 191 in binary. Start by dividing 191 by 2. We get 95 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Next, divide 95 by 2. Now we get 47 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Divide 47 by 2 to get 23 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Divide 23 by 2 to get 11 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Divide 11 by 2 to get 5 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder.
Divide 5 by 2 to get 2 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Divide 2 by 2 to get 1 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. 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 1011111 (binary of 191).
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.
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