Converting Binary is simple only when we know how

binary to decimal conversion

My intention is to show you one way of converting Binary to Decimal. This way worked for me and I see know reason why it will not work for you. I am confident that if you spend 10 minutes reading this you will grasp it in no time. We can convert Binary to Decimal in a similar way as converting Decimal to Binary. I am basing this tutorial on using 8 bit binary, which is the same as the first Octet in an ip address.
We are going to use this binary number for our example.

10101100

1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0

This binary number is the same as "172" which is Decimal.
10101100 = 172
First start off by creating a table like the one below. 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

128 | 64 | 32 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1

You will notice our binary number "10101100" has 8 bits

128 | 64 | 32 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1

Starting from left to right you will now place the first bit of the binary number in to our table like I have in the box below.

128 | 64 | 32 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |

Then continue to place all the bits in to the box like below.

128 | 64 | 32 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0

Now remember this where we have placed a "1" in the box "1" means on or add and "0" means off or ignore.
The first bit we placed in the box was a "1" which was under the box marked "128"
The second bit we placed in the box was a "0" under the box marked "64"
So what I want you to do is this add up all the "1"s

128 + 32 + 8 + 4 = 172

You will have noticed we ignored all the "0"s
We have now worked out our first Octet which is "172"