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Meaning & use

radix

noun·Advancedtechnical

Last updated

UK/ˈreɪdɪks/
US/ˈreɪdɪks/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablemathematicscomputing

    The number of distinct digits a counting system uses, such as ten in ordinary decimal numbers or two in binary.

    Grammar: Plural radices or radixes: a number system has a radix.

    Patterns

    • the radix of something
    • radix of ten

    Binary has a radix of two, so it only uses the digits 0 and 1.

    Hexadecimal uses a radix of sixteen, adding letters for the extra digits.

    The program converts a value from one radix to another.

  2. nouncountablespecialistbiology

    The root or basal part of a plant, nerve or other body structure from which something grows.

    Grammar: Plural radices; it appears in anatomy and botany texts.

    Patterns

    • the radix of something

    The botanist labeled the radix of the herb in her notes.

    Surgeons described the radix of the nerve where it leaves the spinal cord.

    In older herbals, the radix was the part dried and sold as medicine.

Word forms

pluralradices
pluralradixes

Common combinations

radix of a number system
The radix of a number system tells you how many symbols it needs.
change the radix
The calculator lets you change the radix from decimal to binary.
radix point
In decimal numbers the radix point is the dot between whole and fractional parts.
radix sort
A radix sort arranges numbers by looking at one digit at a time.

Synonyms and how they differ

base
Base is the everyday word for the same idea, while radix sounds more formal and technical.
root
Root fits the plant or body sense but is not used for number systems in that way.
origin
Origin is a general word for a starting point and has no mathematical meaning like radix.

Word family

radical adjective
relating to roots or basic causes; extreme
radicle noun
the first root of a seedling
eradicate verb
to pull out by the roots; destroy completely
radish noun
an edible root vegetable

Commonly confused: radix or radius?

radix vs radius

A radius is the distance from the center of a circle to its edge; a radix is a number-system base or a root.

Practice

What is the radix of the binary number system?

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