The hexadecimal numbering system is a way of counting that allows
representation of quantities from zero to fifteen with a single
digit. Hexadecimal numbering uses the digits 0-9 that we've all
seen before, but adds the letters A-F to represent quantities
ten to fifteen.
Counting from one to fifteen, we would use these symbols:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F
A common practice for pronouncing the digits A-F is to use the
military system for letter names. The names for the digits A-F
are able, baker, charley, dog, easy, and fox. These extra symbols
can be written using either the upper or lower case alpha characters.
The pronunciacion for this symbol
1cde
would be "one charley dog easy".
The digits also have positional value, just as they have in the
decimal numbering system. The second position (from the right)
indicates the number of sixteens in the number, and the third
position (from the right) indicates a multiple of sixteen squared
(two hundred fifty six). To convert this number
Hexadecimal numbering is convenient for computer engineers because
the value of each octet (byte) can be accurately represented with
exactly two hexadecimal digits.
