How to use BASE function in Excel?

The `BASE` function in Excel is used to convert a number into a different base system. It converts a decimal number to a text representation of that number in a specified base (radix). The syntax for the `BASE` function is as follows:

BASE(number, radix, [min_length])

Here’s a breakdown of the arguments:

number: The decimal number you want to convert. It must be a non-negative integer.
radix: The base you want to convert the number to. This can be any integer between 2 and 36.
min_length (optional): The minimum length of the returned string. If the converted number is shorter than the specified minimum length, the result will be padded with leading zeros.

Example Usage

Convert a number to binary (base 2):

To convert the number 10 to binary:

   =BASE(10, 2)

This formula returns `1010`.

Convert a number to hexadecimal (base 16):

To convert the number 255 to hexadecimal:

   =BASE(255, 16)

This formula returns `FF`.

Convert a number to a base with a minimum length:

To convert the number 5 to base 3 with a minimum length of 5 characters:

   =BASE(5, 3, 5)

This formula returns `00012`.

Considerations

The `number` must be non-negative and less than 2^53.
The `radix` must be between 2 and 36.
If the specified `min_length` is greater than the length of the converted number, the result will include leading zeros to reach the minimum length.
The `BASE` function returns a text value. If you need to use the result as a number in calculations, you may need to convert it back using the `VALUE` function or through other means.

This function can be particularly useful for working with different numeral systems, such as binary, octal, or hexadecimal, in various technical and scientific applications.

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