The dec2hex() Function within Scilab

Within the Scilab environment, professionals often turn to a tool named dec2hex(). This function facilitates the conversion of a number from its decimal form to its hexadecimal counterpart. Let's delve into its usage.

dec2hex(x,n)

Here, 'x' represents the decimal number targeted for conversion.

When you employ dec2hex() in your code, the output is a string rendered in hexadecimal.

Should you provide an array of numbers for the "x" parameter, dec2hex() efficiently returns an array of strings, each reflecting the hexadecimal value of the corresponding decimal number.

Consider the example: dec2hex(10)

dec2hex(10)

Upon execution, the display reveals "A", the hexadecimal representation of the decimal number 10.

ans=
"A"

It's worth noting that dec2hex() is versatile enough to handle arrays.

For instance, when supplied with the array [8,9,10,11]:

dec2hex([8,9,10,11])

The function produces an array of strings: "8", "9", "A", and "B", each corresponding to its respective hexadecimal value.

ans=
"8", "9", "A", "B"

It's crucial to understand that dec2hex() outputs strings. To manipulate the underlying numbers, one must first convert these strings back to their numerical form.

For clarity, combining dec2hex(10) with another dec2hex(10) doesn't yield the sum of the hexadecimal numbers.

dec2hex(10)+dec2hex(10)

In this scenario, the "+" operator is concatenating two strings, resulting in "A"+"A":

"AA"

However, to achieve a true hexadecimal sum, the following approach is recommended:

dec2hex(hex2dec("A")+hex2dec("A"))

"14"

The outcome is "14", the hexadecimal equivalent of the decimal number 20.

In conclusion, for those seeking to reverse the process, converting from hexadecimal to decimal, Scilab offers the invaluable hex2dec() function.