How do you convert octal to decimal?

Octal is a system of real numbers that was commonly used in older computing systems. The main use of the octal system today is in Unix applications. It's digits range from 0 to 7. The decimal system is the main number system used today. It has nine discrete digits ranging from 0 to 9. The main purpose of octal and the more popular hexadecimal system is because they are easier to convert to and from binary than can be done by the decimal system.

1. Count the number of digits

   Starting from the right, count the number of digits beginning with the number 0. The number 427 would be numbered 210.

2. Multiply each digit by 8 to a power

   The next step is to multiply each individual digit by 8 to the power of that digit's place in the number. For example, if you want to convert the number 427 base 8 to decimal, you will arrange the conversion like so: (4 * 8^2) + (2 * 8^1) + (7 * 8^0).

3. Add the products of each digit

   The next step is to multiply each individual digit and then add the products together: 256 + 16 + 7 = (279)base 10. Thus, the answer would be the decimal number 279.