Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Correct
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
One of the most taught methods for decimal-to-binary conversion in digital fundamentals is the repeated division-by-2 technique. It yields binary digits as remainders, naturally generating the least significant bit first. This question checks whether that description accurately captures the process.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Division by the base (2) produces digits in reverse order. Each division step produces a quotient and a remainder; stacking remainders from last to first reconstructs the binary representation. This method is efficient for manual conversions and is analogous to division by 8 for octal and by 16 for hexadecimal.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
Example: 13 ÷ 2 → r1; 6 ÷ 2 → r0; 3 ÷ 2 → r1; 1 ÷ 2 → r1; reading remainders backward gives 1101 (binary for 13). The procedure works for any nonnegative integer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Forgetting to reverse the order of remainders; mishandling 0 and 1 edge cases; confusing integer division with floating-point division for fractional parts (which require a separate multiply-by-2 method).
Final Answer:
Correct — repeated division by 2 with recorded remainders is the standard decimal-to-binary conversion method.
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