What is the main advantage of using hexadecimal over binary?
Answer Details
When it comes to choosing hexadecimal over binary for various applications, the **main advantage** is that **hexadecimal numbers are easier to read and write**.
Let's delve into why this is true using simple examples:
**Binary representation** uses only two symbols, 0 and 1. For example, the binary number "1111" represents the decimal number 15. If we have a larger number like "101011110", it can be cumbersome and error-prone to read or write.
In contrast, **hexadecimal representation** uses 16 symbols (0-9 and A-F), which allows it to express the same value using fewer digits. The number "101011110" in binary is represented as "15E" in hexadecimal. This abbreviation makes **hexadecimal more convenient and less error-prone** in human communication.
Thus, the fundamental advantage here is that **hexadecimal provides a more compact and human-friendly way to represent binary values** compared to the other considerations listed. By reducing the length of numbers and improving legibility, it becomes much easier for programmers and engineers to read, understand, and communicate the digital values effectively.