Radix

In mathematical numeral systems, the radix or base is the number of unique digits, including zero, used to represent numbers in a positional numeral system. For example, for the decimal system (the most common system in use today) the radix is ten, because it uses the ten digits from 0 through 9.

In any standard positional numeral system, the number x and its base y are conventionally written as $(x)_y,$ although for base ten the subscript is usually assumed and not written, as it is the most common way to express value. For example, $(100)_{10}$ (in the decimal system) represents the number one hundred, while $(100)_2$ (in the binary system with base 2) represents the number four.^[1]

Etymology

Radix is a Latin word for "root". Root can be considered a synonym for base in the arithmetical sense.

In numeral systems

In the system with radix 13, for example, a string of digits such as 398 denotes the number $3 \times 13^2 + 9 \times 13^1 + 8 \times 13^0$.

More generally, in a system with radix b (b > 1), a string of digits $d_1 \ldots d_n$ denotes the number $d_1 b^{n-1} + d_2 b^{n-2} + \cdots + d_n b^0$, where $0\leq d_i < b$.^[1]

Commonly used numeral systems include:

Base/Radix	Name	Description
10	decimal system	the most used system of numbers in the world, is used in arithmetic. Its ten digits are "0–9". Used in most mechanical counters.
12	duodecimal (dozenal) system	is sometimes advocated due to divisibility by 2, 3, 4 and 6. It was traditionally used as part of quantities expressed in dozens and grosses.
2	binary numeral system	used internally by nearly all computers, is base two. The two digits are "0" and "1", expressed from switches displaying OFF and ON respectively. Used in most electric counters.
16	hexadecimal system	is often used in computing. The sixteen digits are "0–9" followed by "A–F" or "a–f".
8	octal system	is occasionally used in computing. The eight digits are "0–7".
20	vigesimal	traditional numeral system in several cultures, still used by some for counting.
60	sexagesimal system	originated in ancient Sumeria and passed to the Babylonians.[2] Used today as the basis of our modern circular coordinate system (degrees, minutes, and seconds) and time measuring (hours, minutes, and seconds).

For a larger list, see List of numeral systems.

The octal and hexadecimal systems are often used in computing because of their ease as shorthand for binary. Every hexadecimal digit corresponds to a sequence of four binary digits, since sixteen is the fourth power of two; for example, hexadecimal 78 is binary 111 1000. A similar relationship holds between every octal digit and every possible sequence of three binary digits, since eight is the cube of two.

Radices are usually natural numbers. However, other positional systems are possible, e.g. golden ratio base (whose radix is a non-integer algebraic number),^[3] and negative base (whose radix is negative).^[4]

See also

• Base (exponentiation)
• Radix economy
• Non-standard positional numeral systems

External links

• Base Convert, a floating-point base calculator
• MathWorld entry on base

References

1. M. Morris Mano and Charles Kime (2014). Logic and computer design fundamentals. (4th ed.). Harlow: Pearson. pp. 13–14. ISBN 978-1-292-02468-4.
2. Bertman, Stephen (2005). Handbook to life in ancient Mesopotamia (Paperback ed.). Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Press. p. 257. ISBN 978-019-518364-1.
3. Bergman, George (1957). "A Number System with an Irrational Base". Mathematics Magazine 31 (2): 98–110. doi:10.2307/3029218. JSTOR 3029218.
4. William J. Gilbert (September 1979). "Negative Based Number Systems" (PDF). Mathematics Magazine 52 (4): 240–244. Retrieved 7 February 2015.