Definition

1. Noun:
   • A numeral system using base-16: "Sexadecimal notation" is a system for representing numbers that uses sixteen distinct symbols. It is synonymous with the more common term "hexadecimal notation."

Usage Notes

• This term is a technical synonym for "hexadecimal notation." The prefix "sexa-" derives from Latin, meaning six, and "decimal" refers to ten, together implying sixteen. In modern computing and mathematics, "hexadecimal" is the overwhelmingly preferred term.
• It is used in contexts like low-level programming, digital electronics, and computer science to represent binary-coded values in a more human-readable form.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The memory address was displayed in sexadecimal notation for the debugging session.
  • Converting a binary number to sexadecimal notation groups bits into sets of four.

Advanced Usage

• As a positional numeral system: In sexadecimal notation, the value of a digit is multiplied by a power of 16 based on its position. The symbols used are typically 0-9 and A-F (or a-f).
  • The sexadecimal notation value 1F represents the decimal number 31 (116 + 15).*

Variants and Related Words

• Hexadecimal notation (n): The standard modern term for the base-16 numeral system.
• Hex (n, informal): A common abbreviation in computing (e.g., "a hex value").
• Base-16 (n): A descriptive term for the system.

Synonyms

• Hexadecimal notation: The direct and primary synonym.
• Base-sixteen notation: A descriptive synonym.

Related Phrases

• Sexadecimal digit: A single symbol in the system (0-9, A-F).
• Sexadecimal number: A number expressed in this notation.

Noun

1. any notation that uses 16 different characters