1. Is this a positive or a negative number?
0101 1000 is the binary representation of a positive integer, on 8 bits.
In a signed binary, the first bit (the leftmost) is reserved for the sign,
1 = negative, 0 = positive. This bit does not count when calculating the absolute value.
2. Construct the unsigned binary number.
Exclude the first bit (the leftmost), that is reserved for the sign:
0101 1000 = 101 1000
3. Map the unsigned binary number's digits versus the corresponding powers of 2 that their place value represent:
26
1 25
0 24
1 23
1 22
0 21
0 20
0
The number 0101 1000(2) converted from a signed binary (base two) and written as an integer in decimal system (base ten):
0101 1000(2) = 88(10)
Spaces were used to group digits: for binary, by 4, for decimal, by 3.