Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) · Data › Binary
Practise Hexadecimal. 11 exam-style questions plus unlimited generated ones on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
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State the number of bits represented by one hexadecimal digit.
4
A computer displays 16-bit memory addresses in hexadecimal. One address is 4A2F. Convert 4A2F to 16-bit binary.
0100 1010 0010 1111
State the number of hexadecimal digits needed to write a 48-bit MAC address.
12
A microcontroller kit shows the value of each 8-bit sensor reading as a 2-digit hexadecimal number. Convert the hexadecimal reading 2F to 8-bit binary.
0010 1111
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of Edexcel exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy3 marks
(a) State the number of bits represented by one hexadecimal digit.[1]
(b) Give the denary value of the hexadecimal digit D.[1]
(c) Convert the 8-bit binary number 1010 0111 to hexadecimal.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: 4
4
(b)Answer: 13
13
(c)Answer: A7
hexadecimal A7
Question 2Medium4 marks
The display on a network router shows error codes in hexadecimal.
(a) Convert the error code 3E to 8-bit binary.[1]
(b) Convert the 8-bit binary number 1100 0101 to hexadecimal.[1]
(c) A student says, 'Storing the error codes in hexadecimal takes up less memory than storing them in binary.' Explain why the student is wrong.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: 0011 1110
0011 1110
(b)Answer: C5
hexadecimal C5
(c)Answer: The computer always stores the code in binary; hexadecimal is only how it is shown to people, so the memory used is the same.
computers store all data in binary; hexadecimal is only a way of displaying / writing the values for people
3E and 0011 1110 are the same value and take up the same 8 bits of memory
Question 3Hard5 marks
A computer displays 16-bit memory addresses in hexadecimal. One address is 4A2F.
(a) Convert 4A2F to 16-bit binary.[2]
(b) Explain why hexadecimal is used to display memory addresses instead of binary.[2]
(c) State the largest 16-bit memory address, in hexadecimal.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: 0100 1010 0010 1111
first 8 bits: 0100 1010
last 8 bits: 0010 1111
(b)Answer: 4 hex digits instead of 16 bits: easier to read and copy correctly, and each digit maps straight to 4 bits.
a 16-bit address needs only 4 hexadecimal digits instead of 16 binary digits
so it is easier to read and remember and less likely to be copied incorrectly, while each digit still converts directly to 4 bits