Hexadecimal to Octal Conversion Examples

Hexadecimal to octal conversion is an important concept in number systems used in computer science, digital electronics, and programming. It helps transform base-16 numbers into base-8 format, making data easier to interpret in certain computing environments.

Understanding this conversion allows students and professionals to efficiently work with low-level programming, memory representation, and digital system design.

What is Hexadecimal to Octal Conversion?

Hexadecimal to octal conversion is the process of converting a base-16 number into its equivalent base-8 number using systematic methods. This conversion is commonly used to simplify binary data representation in different formats.

The main methods for conversion are given below:

1. Direct Method (Using Binary Conversion)

This is the most common and reliable method where hexadecimal numbers are first converted into binary and then into octal.

  • Each hexadecimal digit is converted into a 4-bit binary number
  • Combine all binary digits
  • Group binary digits into sets of 3 (from right)
  • Convert each group into octal

2. Indirect Method (Using Decimal Conversion)

In this method, the hexadecimal number is first converted into decimal and then into octal.

  • Convert hexadecimal to decimal using powers of 16
  • Convert decimal to octal using division by 8

Steps for Hexadecimal to Octal Conversion

Hexadecimal to octal conversion becomes simple when you follow a step-by-step approach. These steps ensure accuracy and clarity.

1. Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

Each hexadecimal digit is replaced by its equivalent 4-bit binary value.

Example:
A → 1010,
F → 1111

2. Group Binary Digits

Binary digits are grouped into sets of 3 starting from the right side.

  • Add leading zeros if necessary

3. Convert Binary to Octal

Each group of 3 binary digits is converted into an octal digit.

Example:
111 → 7,
010 → 2

Hexadecimal to Octal Conversion Table

This table helps in understanding the relationship between hexadecimal, binary, and octal numbers.

Hexadecimal Binary Octal
0 0000 0
1 0001 1
2 0010 2
3 0011 3
4 0100 4
5 0101 5
6 0110 6
7 0111 7
8 1000 10
9 1001 11
A 1010 12
B 1011 13
C 1100 14
D 1101 15
E 1110 16
F 1111 17

Hexadecimal to Octal Conversion Examples

These examples help students clearly understand the step-by-step process of converting hexadecimal numbers into octal format. The list of solved examples is given below:

1. Example: Convert (3A)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (3A)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

 

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

Each hexadecimal digit is converted into its 4-bit binary equivalent:

3₁₆ = 0011₂
A₁₆ = 1010₂

(3A)₁₆ = (00111010)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

Group the binary number from right to left and add leading zeros if needed:

(00111010)₂ = (000 111 010)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

000₂ = 0₈
111₂ = 7₈
010₂ = 2₈

Final Answer:
(3A)₁₆ = (072)₈

2. Example: Convert (7F)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (7F)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

Each hexadecimal digit is converted into its 4-bit binary equivalent:

7₁₆ = 0111₂
F₁₆ = 1111₂

(7F)₁₆ = (01111111)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

Group the binary number from right to left and add leading zeros if needed:

(01111111)₂ = (001 111 111)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

001₂ = 1₈
111₂ = 7₈
111₂ = 7₈

Final Answer:
(7F)₁₆ = (177)₈

3. Example: Convert (A5)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (A5)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

A₁₆ = 1010₂
5₁₆ = 0101₂

( A5 )₁₆ = (10100101)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

(10100101)₂ = (010 100 101)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

010₂ = 2₈
100₂ = 4₈
101₂ = 5₈

Final Answer:
(A5)₁₆ = (245)₈

4. Example: Convert (2B)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (2B)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

2₁₆ = 0010₂
B₁₆ = 1011₂

(2B)₁₆ = (00101011)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

(00101011)₂ = (000 101 011)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

000₂ = 0₈
101₂ = 5₈
011₂ = 3₈

Final Answer:
(2B)₁₆ = (053)₈

5. Example: Convert (F2)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (F2)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

F₁₆ = 1111₂
2₁₆ = 0010₂

( F2 )₁₆ = (11110010)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

(11110010)₂ = (011 110 010)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

011₂ = 3₈
110₂ = 6₈
010₂ = 2₈

Final Answer:
(F2)₁₆ = (362)₈

6. Example: Convert (1C7)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (1C7)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

1₁₆ = 0001₂
C₁₆ = 1100₂
7₁₆ = 0111₂

(1C7)₁₆ = (000111000111)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

(000111000111)₂ = (000 111 000 111)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

000₂ = 0₈
111₂ = 7₈
000₂ = 0₈
111₂ = 7₈

Final Answer:
(1C7)₁₆ = (0707)₈

7. Example: Convert (3AF)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (3AF)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

3₁₆ = 0011₂
A₁₆ = 1010₂
F₁₆ = 1111₂

(3AF)₁₆ = (001110101111)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

(001110101111)₂ = (001 110 101 111)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

001₂ = 1₈
110₂ = 6₈
101₂ = 5₈
111₂ = 7₈

Final Answer:
(3AF)₁₆ = (1657)₈

8. Example: Convert (9B2E)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (9B2E)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

9₁₆ = 1001₂
B₁₆ = 1011₂
2₁₆ = 0010₂
E₁₆ = 1110₂

(9B2E)₁₆ = (1001101100101110)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

(1001101100101110)₂ = (001 001 101 100 101 110)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

001₂ = 1₈
001₂ = 1₈
101₂ = 5₈
100₂ = 4₈
101₂ = 5₈
110₂ = 6₈

Final Answer:
(9B2E)₁₆ = (115456)₈

9. Example: Convert (4D3A7)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (4D3A7)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

4₁₆ = 0100₂
D₁₆ = 1101₂
3₁₆ = 0011₂
A₁₆ = 1010₂
7₁₆ = 0111₂

(4D3A7)₁₆ = (01001101001110100111)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

(01001101001110100111)₂ = (000 100 110 100 111 010 011 1)₂
= (000 100 110 100 111 010 011 001)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

000₂ = 0₈
100₂ = 4₈
110₂ = 6₈
100₂ = 4₈
111₂ = 7₈
010₂ = 2₈
011₂ = 3₈
001₂ = 1₈

Final Answer:
(4D3A7)₁₆ = (04647231)₈

10. Example: Convert (1A3F7C)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (1A3F7C)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

1₁₆ = 0001₂
A₁₆ = 1010₂
3₁₆ = 0011₂
F₁₆ = 1111₂
7₁₆ = 0111₂
C₁₆ = 1100₂

(1A3F7C)₁₆ = (000110100011111101111100)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

(000110100011111101111100)₂ = (000 110 100 011 111 101 111 100)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

000₂ = 0₈
110₂ = 6₈
100₂ = 4₈
011₂ = 3₈
111₂ = 7₈
101₂ = 5₈
111₂ = 7₈
100₂ = 4₈

Final Answer:
(1A3F7C)₁₆ = (06437574)₈

11. Example: Convert (ABC123)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (ABC123)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

A₁₆ = 1010₂
B₁₆ = 1011₂
C₁₆ = 1100₂
1₁₆ = 0001₂
2₁₆ = 0010₂
3₁₆ = 0011₂

(ABC123)₁₆ = (101010111100000100100011)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

(101010111100000100100011)₂ = (101 010 111 100 000 100 100 011)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

101₂ = 5₈
010₂ = 2₈
111₂ = 7₈
100₂ = 4₈
000₂ = 0₈
100₂ = 4₈
100₂ = 4₈
011₂ = 3₈

Final Answer:
(ABC123)₁₆ = (52740443)₈

12. Example: Convert (7F2A9B)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (7F2A9B)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

7₁₆ = 0111₂
F₁₆ = 1111₂
2₁₆ = 0010₂
A₁₆ = 1010₂
9₁₆ = 1001₂
B₁₆ = 1011₂

(7F2A9B)₁₆ = (011111110010101010011011)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

(011111110010101010011011)₂ = (011 111 110 010 101 010 011 011)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

011₂ = 3₈
111₂ = 7₈
110₂ = 6₈
010₂ = 2₈
101₂ = 5₈
010₂ = 2₈
011₂ = 3₈
011₂ = 3₈

Final Answer:
(7F2A9B)₁₆ = (37625233)₈

13. Example: Convert (1234ABCD)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (1234ABCD)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

1₁₆ = 0001₂
2₁₆ = 0010₂
3₁₆ = 0011₂
4₁₆ = 0100₂
A₁₆ = 1010₂
B₁₆ = 1011₂
C₁₆ = 1100₂
D₁₆ = 1101₂

(1234ABCD)₁₆ = (00010010001101001010101111001101)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

(00010010001101001010101111001101)₂
= (000 001 001 000 110 100 101 010 111 100 110 1)₂
= (000 001 001 000 110 100 101 010 111 100 110 001)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

000₂ = 0₈
001₂ = 1₈
001₂ = 1₈
000₂ = 0₈
110₂ = 6₈
100₂ = 4₈
101₂ = 5₈
010₂ = 2₈
111₂ = 7₈
100₂ = 4₈
110₂ = 6₈
001₂ = 1₈

Final Answer:
(1234ABCD)₁₆ = (011064527461)₈

14. Example: Convert (9ABCDE12)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (9ABCDE12)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

9₁₆ = 1001₂
A₁₆ = 1010₂
B₁₆ = 1011₂
C₁₆ = 1100₂
D₁₆ = 1101₂
E₁₆ = 1110₂
1₁₆ = 0001₂
2₁₆ = 0010₂

(9ABCDE12)₁₆ = (10011010101111001101111000010010)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

(10011010101111001101111000010010)₂
= (001 001 101 010 111 100 110 111 100 001 001 0)₂
= (001 001 101 010 111 100 110 111 100 001 001 000)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

001₂ = 1₈
001₂ = 1₈
101₂ = 5₈
010₂ = 2₈
111₂ = 7₈
100₂ = 4₈
110₂ = 6₈
111₂ = 7₈
100₂ = 4₈
001₂ = 1₈
001₂ = 1₈
000₂ = 0₈

Final Answer:
(9ABCDE12)₁₆ = (115274674110)₈

15. Example: Convert (ABCDEF1234)₁₆ to Octal

Solution:

The following steps show the conversion of the hexadecimal number (ABCDEF1234)₁₆ into its equivalent octal number.

Description:

Step 1: Convert Hexadecimal to Binary

A₁₆ = 1010₂
B₁₆ = 1011₂
C₁₆ = 1100₂
D₁₆ = 1101₂
E₁₆ = 1110₂
F₁₆ = 1111₂
1₁₆ = 0001₂
2₁₆ = 0010₂
3₁₆ = 0011₂
4₁₆ = 0100₂

(ABCDEF1234)₁₆ = (1010101111001101111011110001001000110100)₂

Step 2: Group Binary Digits into 3 Bits

(1010101111001101111011110001001000110100)₂
= (001 010 101 111 001 101 111 011 110 001 001 000 110 100)₂

Step 3: Convert Each Group to Octal

001₂ = 1₈
010₂ = 2₈
101₂ = 5₈
111₂ = 7₈
001₂ = 1₈
101₂ = 5₈
111₂ = 7₈
011₂ = 3₈
110₂ = 6₈
001₂ = 1₈
001₂ = 1₈
000₂ = 0₈
110₂ = 6₈
100₂ = 4₈

Final Answer:
(ABCDEF1234)₁₆ = (12571573611064)₈