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100 LearnersLast updated on December 11, 2025

50 in binary is written as 110010 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 50 in the binary system.
The process of converting 50 from decimal to binary involves dividing the number 50 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 50 to binary. In the last step, the remainder is noted down from bottom to top, and that becomes the converted value. For example, the remainders noted down after dividing 50 by 2 until getting 0 as the quotient is 110010. 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 110010. 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 110010 in binary is indeed 50 in the decimal number system.
50 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 50 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 Since 32 is less than 50, we start with 2^5. Step 2 - Identify the largest power of 2: In the previous step, we started at 2^5 = 32. 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, 50. Since 2^5 is the number we are looking for, write 1 in the 2^5 place. Now the value of 2^5, which is 32, is subtracted from 50. 50 - 32 = 18. 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, 18. So, the next largest power of 2 is 2^4, which is 16. Now, we have to write 1 in the 2^4 place. And then subtract 16 from 18. 18 - 16 = 2. Step 4 - Identify the next largest power of 2: The largest power of 2 less than or equal to 2 is 2^1. 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 5 - Identify the unused place values: In step 2, step 3, and step 4, we wrote 1 in the 2^5, 2^4, and 2^1 places. Now, we can just write 0s in the remaining places, which are 2^3, 2^2, and 2^0. Now, by substituting the values, we get, 0 in the 2^0 place 1 in the 2^1 place 0 in the 2^2 place 0 in the 2^3 place 1 in the 2^4 place 1 in the 2^5 place Step 6 - Write the values in reverse order: We now write the numbers upside down to represent 50 in binary. Therefore, 110010 is 50 in binary. Grouping Method: In this method, we divide the number 50 by 2. Let us see the step-by-step conversion. Step 1 - Divide the given number 50 by 2. 50 / 2 = 25. Here, 25 is the quotient and 0 is the remainder. Step 2 - Divide the previous quotient (25) by 2. 25 / 2 = 12. Here, the quotient is 12 and the remainder is 1. Step 3 - Repeat the previous step. 12 / 2 = 6. Now, the quotient is 6, and 0 is the remainder. Step 4 - Repeat the previous step. 6 / 2 = 3. Here, the quotient is 3, and 0 is the remainder. Step 5 - Repeat the previous step. 3 / 2 = 1. Here, the quotient is 1, and 1 is the remainder. Step 6 - Repeat the previous step. 1 / 2 = 0. Here, the remainder is 1. And we stop the division here because the quotient is 0. Step 7 - Write down the remainders from bottom to top. Therefore, 50 (decimal) = 110010 (binary).


There are certain rules to follow when converting any number to binary. Some of them are mentioned below: Rule 1: Place Value Method 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 50. Since the answer is 2^5, write 1 next to this power of 2. Subtract the value (32) from 50. So, 50 - 32 = 18. Find the largest power of 2 less than or equal to 18. The answer is 2^4. So, write 1 next to this power. Now, 18 - 16 = 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 (2^0, 2^2, and 2^3). Final conversion will be 110010. Rule 2: Division by 2 Method 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, 50 is divided by 2 to get 25 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Now, 25 is divided by 2. Here, we will get 12 as the quotient and 1 as the remainder. Dividing 12 by 2, we get 6 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Dividing 6 by 2, we get 3 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Dividing 3 by 2, we get 1 as the quotient and 1 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 50, 110010. Rule 3: Representation Method 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., 2^5, 2^4, 2^3, 2^2, 2^1, and 2^0. Find the largest power that fits into 50. 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. Rule 4: Limitation Rule 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 50, we use 0s for 2^3, 2^2, and 2^0 and 1s for 2^5, 2^4, and 2^1.
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 50. Memorize to speed up conversions: We can memorize the binary forms for numbers 1 to 50. 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 Even and odd rule: Whenever a number is even, its binary form will end in 0. For example, 50 is even, and its binary form is 110010. Here, the binary of 50 ends in 0. If the number is odd, then its binary equivalent will end in 1. For example, the binary of 51 (an odd number) is 110011. 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 50 from decimal to binary using the place value method.
110010
2^5 is the largest power of 2, which is less than or equal to 50. So place 1 next to 2^5. Subtracting 32 from 50, we get 18. So the next largest power would be 2^4. So place another 1 next to 2^4. Now, subtracting 16 from 18, we get 2. So the next largest power would be 2^1. So place another 1 next to 2^1. Now, subtracting 2 from 2, we get 0. Now, we just place 0s in the remaining powers of 2, which are 2^0, 2^2, and 2^3. By using this method, we can find the binary form of 50.
Convert 50 from decimal to binary using the division by 2 method.
110010
Divide 50 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 50 to binary using the representation method.
110010
Break the number 50 into powers of 2 and find the largest powers of 2. We get 2^5. So 1 is placed next to 2^5. Next, 50 - 32 = 18. Now, the largest power of 2 is 2^4. Once again, 1 is placed next to 2^4. Now, 18 - 16 = 2. Now, the largest power of 2 is 2^1. Once again, 1 is placed next to 2^1. Now, 2 - 2 = 0. After getting 0, fill in with zeros for unused powers of 2. By following this method, we get the binary value of 50 as 110010.
How is 50 written in decimal, octal, and binary form?
Decimal form - 50 Octal - 62 Binary - 110010
The decimal system is also called the base 10 system. In this system, 50 is written as 50 only. We have already seen how 50 is written as 110010 in binary. So, let us focus on the octal system, which is base 8. To convert 50 to octal, we need to divide 50 by 8. So 50 / 8 = 6 with 2 as the remainder. In the next step, divide the quotient from the previous step (6) by 8. So 6 / 8 = 0 with 6 as the remainder. The division process stops here because the quotient is now 0. Here, 2 and 6 are the remainders, and they have to be written in reverse order. So, 62 is the octal equivalent of 50.
Express 50 - 20 in binary.
11110
50 - 20 = 30 So, we need to write 30 in binary. Start by dividing 30 by 2. We get 15 as the quotient and 0 as the remainder. Next, divide 15 by 2. Now we 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. 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 11110 (binary of 30).
Decimal: It is the base 10 number system which uses digits from 0 to 9. Binary: This number system uses only 0 and 1. It is also called the base 2 number system. Place value: Every digit has a value based on its position in a given number. For example, in 102 (base 10), 1 has occupied the hundreds place, 0 is in the tens place, and 2 is in the ones place. Octal: It is the number system with a base of 8. It uses digits from 0 to 7. Power of 2: This refers to the exponents of 2 used in the binary system to define place values.

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.






