Howto read HEX

How to read HEX
   
Hexadecimal numbering uses a base 16 counting system. Instead of there being 10 numbers, 0 to 9, there are 16, 0 through F; A-F representing 10,11,12,13,14,and 15, respectively.  In terms of logic, it is much easier to understand hexadecimal if you already understand the use of binary, because base 2 can be used to breakdown base 16, but our normal decimal (base 10) cannot be exactly used for logical examples.  In computers, hexadecimal is used to represent very large binary numbers, for this very reason. 

Each time the count reaches 16, the next place value is increased by one, so that 1 is the same in both systems, but 16 is equal to F1, and 256 is F01.  As you can see, hexadecimal allows very large numbers to be expressed in a much simplified form, making them easier to manipulate once you have grasped the fundamentals.

The following chart shows the decimal (base 10) number, followed by the Hex equivalent. Numbers higher than 16 show the decimal math equivalent:

1 = 1
10 = A
20 = 14 ((1*16)+4)
30 = 1E ((1*16)+15)
40 = 28 ((2*16)+8)
50 = 32 ((3*16)+2)
60 = 3C ((3*16)+12)
70 = 46 ((4*16)+6)
80 = 50 ((5*16)+0) (zero holds the place value)
90 = 5A ((5*16)+10)
100 = 64 ((6*16)+4)
500 = 1F4 ((31*16)+4)
1000 = 3E8 ((62*16)+8)

Unless you are very quick on your mental feet, converting large hex numbers into a decimal equivalent becomes difficult to impossible without using a calculator.  Just remember that each place value is MULTIPLIED by it’s basic value times 16, and the final number is literally added to the product.  The good news is that calculators are allowed when performing hexadecimal math.

Article written by MyComputerAid.com