How to use the DEC2HEX function
The DEC2HEX function converts a decimal number to a hexadecimal number.
What is a decimal number?
The decimal system is a positional numeral system that uses 10 as the base, it requires 10 different numerals: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. The dot or the decimal point represents decimal fractions which are not whole numbers.
The decimal number 520 has three positions, each with a different weight. It starts with 10^0 on the right and increases by one power on each additional position to the left.
520 = (5*10^2)+(2*10^1)+(0*10^0)
520 = 500 + 20 + 0
What is a hexadecimal number?
A hexadecimal number is a number with a base of 16, for example, the decimal system uses a base of 10. This means that each digit in a hexadecimal number can have 16 possible values, from 0 to 15, however, the letters A to F are used from 10 to 15. See the hexadecimal column in the table below.
Hexadecimal numbers are often used in computers, the reason is they represent four binary digits (bits) with one hexadecimal digit. For example, the binary number 1010 is equivalent to the hexadecimal number A.
Hexadecimals make it easier to write big numbers with less digits, in other words, hexadecimals shorten binary digits considerably. For example, we can use hexadecimal to show the values of colors and MAC addresses in computers.
The following table shows the binary, decimal and hexadecimal values from 0 (zero) to 17.
| Decimal | Hexadecimal |
| 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 7 | 7 |
| 8 | 8 |
| 9 | 9 |
| 10 | A |
| 11 | B |
| 12 | C |
| 13 | D |
| 14 | E |
| 15 | F |
| 16 | 10 |
| 17 | 11 |
Table of Contents
1. DEC2HEX function Syntax
DEC2HEX(number, [places])
2. DEC2HEX function Arguments
| number | Required. The decimal integer you want to convert. |
| [places] | Optional. The number of characters to use. If not entered the function uses the number of characters needed to complete the task. This argument allows you to add leading 0s (zeros). |
3. DEC2HEX function Example
The image above shows the DEC2HEX function in cells D3 an D4. It calculates the hexadecimal values based on the corresponding cells which contain different decimal numbers and [places].
Formula in cell D3:
The first cell B3 contains 9 and cell C3 contains the places number, the DEC2HEX function returns 00000009 in cell D3, the second cell B4 contains 15 and the DEC2HEX function returns 0000000F in cell D4.
The next section describes how these values are calculated in detail.
4. How is the DEC2HEX function calculated in detail?
There are different methods converting between decimal and hexadecimal, here is one way. Follow these steps to convert from decimal to hexadecimal:
- Divide the decimal number by 16 and write down the quotient and the remainder.
- Repeat the process with the quotient until it is zero. Make sure to note each quotient and remainder as you calculate each number.
- The hexadecimal number is the remainders from bottom to top.
For example, let us convert decimal number 199 to hexadecimal.
199/16 = 12 and remainder 7
12/16 = 0 and remainder 12 (B)
Decimal value 12 is hexadecimal value "B", see the conversion table above. The hexadecimal number is formed from the remainders counting from bottom to top. 199 = B7
5. DEC2HEX function not working
DEC2HEX returns the #NUM! error value if
- Number is less than -549,755,813,888 or larger than 549,755,813,887. See cells B3 and C3 in the image above.
- [places] is negative. See the formula next to cell C5.
- it requires more than the specified places characters. See the formula next to cell C6.
DEC2HEX returns the #VALUE! error if
- [places] is not a number. See the formula next to cell C7.
- The number is not a valid base 10 number. See cells B4 and C4 in the image above.
The second argument [places]is truncated if it is not an integer. For example, [places] is 4.1111111111 and the DEC2HEX function truncates it to 4. See the formula next to cell C8.
DEC2HEX ignores places and returns a 10-character hexadecimal number if the decimal number is negative.
Useful resources
DEC2HEX function - Microsoft
Decimal to Hexadecimal converter
How to convert decimal to hexadecimal
'' function examples
The following article has a formula that contains the function.
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Functions in 'Engineering' category
The DEC2HEX function function is one of many functions in the 'Engineering' category.
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