The `OCT2BIN` function in Excel is used to convert an octal number (base-8) to a binary number (base-2). Here is how you can use this function:
Syntax
OCT2BIN(number, [places])
- number: This is the octal number you want to convert. It must be a valid octal number and can be up to 10 octal digits long.
- places: This is an optional argument that specifies the number of characters to use for the binary output. If this is specified, and the binary number is shorter than the specified number of places, Excel will pad the result with leading zeros. If omitted, Excel will return the result with the minimum number of characters needed to represent the binary number.
Usage Example
Suppose you want to convert an octal number “17” to a binary number:
=OCT2BIN(17)
- In an Excel cell, enter the octal number: `17`.
- Use the `OCT2BIN` function in another cell:
- Press Enter, and Excel will display the binary equivalent of the octal number.
Including Places
If you want the binary result to be a specific length, you can include the optional `places` argument:
=OCT2BIN(17, 8)
- To convert the octal number “17” to a binary number with 8 digits:
Notes:
- If the `number` is not a valid octal number, `OCT2BIN` will return a `#NUM!` error.
- If `places` is less than the minimum number of digits necessary to represent the binary number, `OCT2BIN` will return a `#NUM!` error as well.
- If `places` is used, it must be a positive integer.
By using these steps, you can effectively convert octal numbers to binary numbers using Excel’s `OCT2BIN` function.
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