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Last updated on August 22, 2025
326 in binary is written as 101000110 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 326.
The process of converting 326 from decimal to binary involves dividing the number 326 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 326 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 326 by 2 until getting 0 as the quotient result in 101000110. 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 101000110.
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 101000110 in binary is indeed 326 in the decimal number system.
326 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 326 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 512 is greater than 326, we stop at 2^8 = 256.
Step 2 - Identify the largest power of 2: In the previous step, we stopped at 2^8 = 256. 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, 326. Since 2^8 is the number we are looking for, write 1 in the 2^8 place. Now the value of 2^8, which is 256, is subtracted from 326. 326 - 256 = 70.
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, 70. So, the next largest power of 2 is 2^6 = 64, which is less than or equal to 70. Now, we have to write 1 in the 2^6 place. And then subtract 64 from 70. 70 - 64 = 6.
Step 4 - Identify the next largest power of 2: Now, we need to find the largest power of 2 that fits into 6. The next largest power of 2 is 2^2 = 4, which is less than or equal to 6. Now, we have to write 1 in the 2^2 place. And then subtract 4 from 6. 6 - 4 = 2.
Step 5 - Identify the next largest power of 2: Now, we need to find the largest power of 2 that fits into 2. The next largest power of 2 is 2^1 = 2, which is equal to 2. Now, we have to write 1 in the 2^1 place. And then subtract 2 from 2. 2 - 2 = 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 2^8, 2^6, 2^2, and 2^1 places. Now, we can just write 0s in the remaining places, which are 2^7, 2^5, 2^4, and 2^0. Now, by substituting the values, we get, 0 in the 2^0 place 1 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 0 in the 2^7 place 1 in the 2^8 place
Step 7 - Write the values in reverse order: We now write the numbers upside down to represent 326 in binary. Therefore, 101000110 is 326 in binary.
Grouping Method: In this method, we divide the number 326 by 2. Let us see the step-by-step conversion.
Step 1 - Divide the given number 326 by 2. 326 / 2 = 163. Here, 163 is the quotient and 0 is the remainder.
Step 2 - Divide the previous quotient (163) by 2. 163 / 2 = 81. Here, the quotient is 81 and the remainder is 1.
Step 3 - Repeat the previous step. 81 / 2 = 40. Now, the quotient is 40, and 1 is the remainder.
Step 4 - Repeat the previous step. 40 / 2 = 20. Here, the quotient is 20, and 0 is the remainder.
Step 5 - Repeat the previous step. 20 / 2 = 10. Here, the quotient is 10, and 0 is the remainder.
Step 6 - Repeat the previous step. 10 / 2 = 5. Here, the quotient is 5, and 0 is the remainder.
Step 7 - Repeat the previous step. 5 / 2 = 2. Here, the quotient is 2, and 1 is the remainder.
Step 8 - Repeat the previous step. 2 / 2 = 1. Here, the quotient is 1, and 0 is the remainder.
Step 9 - Repeat the previous step. 1 / 2 = 0. Here, the remainder is 1. And we stop the division here because the quotient is 0.
Step 10 - Write down the remainders from bottom to top. Therefore, 326 (decimal) = 101000110 (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 326. Since the answer is 2^8, write 1 next to this power of 2. Subtract the value (256) from 326. So, 326 - 256 = 70. Find the largest power of 2 less than or equal to 70. The answer is 2^6. So, write 1 next to this power. Now, 70 - 64 = 6. Find the largest power of 2 less than or equal to 6. The answer is 2^2. So, write 1 next to this power. Now, 6 - 4 = 2. Find the largest power of 2 less than or equal to 2. The answer is 2^1. So, write 1 next to this power. Now, 2 - 2 = 0. Since there is no remainder, we can write 0 next to the remaining powers (2^7, 2^5, 2^4, and 2^0). Final conversion will be 101000110.
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, 326 is divided by 2 to get 163 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Now, 163 is divided by 2. Here, we will get 81 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Dividing 81 by 2, we get 40 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Divide 40 by 2 to get 20 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Divide 20 by 2 to get 10 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Divide 10 by 2 to get 5 as the quotient and 0 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. We stop the division once the quotient becomes 0. Now, we write the remainders upside down to get the binary equivalent of 326, 101000110.
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., 2^8, 2^7, 2^6, 2^5, 2^4, 2^3, 2^2, 2^1, and 2^0. Find the largest power that fits into 326. 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 326, we use 1s for 2^8, 2^6, 2^2, and 2^1, and 0s for 2^7, 2^5, 2^4, 2^3, and 2^0.
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 326.
Memorize to speed up conversions: We can memorize the binary forms for numbers 1 to 10 as a start and then expand.
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, 326 is even, and its binary form is 101000110. Here, the binary of 326 ends in 0. If the number is odd, then its binary equivalent will end in 1. For example, the binary of 327 (an odd number) is 101000111. 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 326 from decimal to binary using the place value method.
101000110
2^8 is the largest power of 2, which is less than or equal to 326. So place 1 next to 2^8. Subtracting 256 from 326, we get 70. So the next largest power would be 2^6. So place another 1 next to 2^6. Subtracting 64 from 70, we get 6. The next largest power is 2^2. Place 1 next to 2^2. Subtracting 4 from 6, we get 2. Finally, the largest power for 2 is 2^1. Place 1 next to 2^1. Subtracting 2 from 2, we get 0. Lastly, place 0s in the remaining powers of 2, which are 2^7, 2^5, 2^4, 2^3, and 2^0. By using this method, we can find the binary form of 326.
Convert 326 from decimal to binary using the division by 2 method.
101000110
Divide 326 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 326 to binary using the representation method.
101000110
Break the number 326 into powers of 2 and find the largest powers of 2. We get 2^8. So 1 is placed next to 2^8. Next, 326 - 256 = 70. Now, the largest power of 2 is 2^6. Once again, 1 is placed next to 2^6. Subtract 64 from 70 to get 6. The largest power of 2 for 6 is 2^2. Place 1 next to 2^2. Subtracting 4 from 6, we get 2. The largest power of 2 for 2 is 2^1. Place 1 next to 2^1. Subtracting 2 from 2, we get 0. After getting 0, fill in with zeros for unused powers of 2. By following this method, we get the binary value of 326 as 101000110.
How is 326 written in decimal, octal, and binary form?
Decimal form - 326 Octal - 506 Binary - 101000110
The decimal system is also called the base 10 system. In this system, 326 is written as 326 only. We have already seen how 326 is written as 101000110 in binary. So, let us focus on the octal system, which is base 8. To convert 326 to octal, we need to divide 326 by 8. So 326 / 8 = 40 with 6 as the remainder. In the next step, divide the quotient from the previous step (40) by 8. So 40 / 8 = 5 with 0 as the remainder. Finally, divide 5 by 8 to get 0 with 5 as the remainder. The division process stops here because the quotient is now 0. Here, the remainders are 6, 0, and 5, and they have to be written in reverse order. So, 506 is the octal equivalent of 326.
Express 326 - 5 in binary.
101001001
326 - 5 = 321 So, we need to write 321 in binary. Start by dividing 321 by 2. We get 160 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Next, divide 160 by 2. Now we get 80 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Divide 80 by 2 to get 40 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Divide 40 by 2 to get 20 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Divide 20 by 2 to get 10 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Divide 10 by 2 to get 5 as the quotient and 0 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 101001001 (binary of 321).
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.