A memory location at address 200H stores the byte value 3FH. What is the decimal equivalent of the hexadecimal byte 3FH?

Introduction / Context:
Converting between hexadecimal and decimal is routine when interpreting memory dumps, instruction operands, or register values. The question asks for the decimal value of the hex byte 3F (base 16) observed at a given address. The address is informational; the conversion concerns only the byte value itself.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Hex value: 3F16.
• Hex digits: 0–9 and A–F where A=10, B=11, ..., F=15.
• Byte width implies two hex digits, but leading zeros are not needed.

Concept / Approach:

In base 16, positional weights are powers of 16. For two-digit hex XY, the decimal value is (X * 16) + Y, where X and Y are the numeric values of the hex digits. Therefore compute 3F16 as 3 * 16 + 15 because F represents 15.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Binary cross check: 3F16 = 0011 1111₂ which equals 32 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 63. The two methods agree.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

32 corresponds to 2016. 16 corresponds to 1016. 38 is unrelated to 3F16. 'None of the above' is wrong because 63 is correct.

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing the letter F with a decimal digit beyond 9 or misapplying base weights (e.g., using base 10 weights by mistake).

Final Answer:

63