Calc normally displays numbers in decimal (base-10 or radix-10)
notation. Calc can actually display in any radix from two (binary) to 36.
When the radix is above 10, the letters A to Z are used as
digits. When entering such a number, letter keys are interpreted as
potential digits rather than terminating numeric entry mode.
The key sequences d 2, d 8, d 6, and d 0 select binary, octal, hexadecimal, and decimal as the current display radix, respectively. Numbers can always be entered in any radix, though the current radix is used as a default if you press # without any initial digits. A number entered without a # is always interpreted as decimal.
To set the radix generally, use d r (calc-radix) and enter
an integer from 2 to 36. You can specify the radix as a numeric prefix
argument; otherwise you will be prompted for it.
Integers normally are displayed with however many digits are necessary to
represent the integer and no more. The d z (calc-leading-zeros)
command causes integers to be padded out with leading zeros according to the
current binary word size. (See section Binary Number Functions, for a discussion of
word size.) If the absolute value of the word size is w, all integers
are displayed with at least enough digits to represent @c{$2^w-1$}
(2^w)-1 in the
current radix. (Larger integers will still be displayed in their entirety.)