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Explain why 321 in base 5 is not equal to 321 in base 10

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Answer:

In base 5, the digit "3" represents the value 3. However, in base 10, the digit "3" represents the value 3 as well. So, at first glance, it may seem that 321 in base 5 is equal to 321 in base 10.

However, it is important to consider the positional value of each digit. In base 5, the rightmost digit represents the ones place, the next digit to the left represents the fives place, and the third digit from the right represents the twenty-fives place.

Let's break down the number 321 in base 5:

1. The rightmost digit is 1, which represents 1 in the ones place.

2. The next digit to the left is 2, which represents 2 fives, or 10 in the fives place.

3. The leftmost digit is 3, which represents 3 twenty-fives, or 75 in the twenty-fives place.

Therefore, 321 in base 5 is equal to 75 in base 10.

As you can see, the positional value of each digit changes when converting between different bases, resulting in a different overall value. Hence, 321 in base 5 is not equal to 321 in base 10.

Explanation:

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