Concept
Hexadecimal
Overview
Hexadecimal (hex for short) is a positional numeral system for representing a numeric value as base 16. For the most common convention, a digit is represented as "0" to "9" like for decimal and as a letter of the alphabet from "A" to "F" (either upper or lower case) for the digits with decimal value 10 to 15.
As typical computer hardware is binary in nature and that hex is power of 2, the hex representation is often used in computing as a dense representation of binary information. A hex digit represents 4 contiguous bits –known as a nibble. An 8-bit byte is two hex digits, such as 2C.
Special notation is often used to indicate that a number is hex. In mathematics, a subscript is typically used to specify the base. For example, the decimal value 491 would be expressed in hex as 1EB16. In computer programming, various notations are used. In C and many related languages, the prefix 0x is used. For example, 0x1EB.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
Thus there arises a classification of modes of formation, or in the language commonly used by mathematicians, a classification of Functions. Any number, considered as formed from any other number, is called a function of it; and there are as many kinds of functions as there are modes of formation. The simple functions are by no means numerous, most functions being formed by the combination of several of the…
John Stuart Mill, A System of Logic, Ratiocinative and Inductive
States what Hexadecimal is.
In this employment the algebraic letters are called the ‘arguments’ of the function, or sometimes they are called the ‘variables.’ Then, for instance, if an angle is represented by an algebraical letter, as standing for its numerical measure in terms of a given unit, Trigonometry is absorbed into this new algebra. Algebra thus develops into the general science of analysis in which we consider the properties of…
Alfred North Whitehead, Science and the modern world
States what Hexadecimal is.
Therefore among them will be one less than all the others. And, on the other hand, this number does not exist, because its definition implies contradiction. This number, in fact, is defined by the phrase in italics which is composed of less than a hundred English words; and by definition this number should not be capable of definition by a like phrase.
Henri Poincaré, The Foundations of Science
States what Hexadecimal is.
Related ideas
- Greek language
- Golden ratio
- Ad hoc
- Latin
- Mathematics
- Rational number
- Numeral system
- Communications of the ACM
- Bit
- XML
- Computer programming
- Cube
- Algorithm
- Diameter
- Decimal
- Etymology
- Binary code
Place in the tradition
Part of Philosophy of mathematics.