Hey Amos,

Hex is a base 16 numbering system, which means that a single hex digit may represent any one of 16 discrete values.

Hex numbers use the following digits:

0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-A-B-C-D-E-F

which correspond to the following values, represented in decimal:

0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

To convert a number from hex to decimal, take the least signifigant digit of the number (the rightmost), and multiply it's value time 16^0. Take the next least signifigant digit (one digit to the left) and multiply it times 16^1, and so on to the most signifigant value, incrementing the exponent as you move left.

For example:

8F = 15*(16^0) + 8*(16^1) = 15*1 + 8*16 = 143

Aaron