What is the symbol set used in hexadecimal number systems?

Concept

A positional number system with base b uses b distinct digit symbols. Each position represents a power of the base, so every allowed digit must have a value from 0 through b - 1.

Hexadecimal has base 16. It therefore needs sixteen symbols: ten for values 0 through 9 and six more for values 10 through 15.

Application

1. Use the decimal symbols 0-9 for values zero through nine.

2. Assign A, B, C, D, E, and F to values ten through fifteen.

Cross-check and contrast

• 0-9, A-Z supplies 36 symbols, which is more than a base-16 system needs.

• 1-9, A-F omits the zero symbol and supplies only 15 symbols.

• 1-9, A-Z also omits zero and supplies 35 symbols.

Thus the hexadecimal symbol set is 0-9, A-F.