Conversions and Positional/Non-positional number systems

To convert the binary number 110010101 to decimal, and the decimal number 529 to binary, you must set the binary number 110010101 as 9 spaces. Starting from the right you write under it 2^0, 2^1 and so on until you reach the last 1 on the left side and it will read 2^8 or 256. Whenever the number 1 appears you add the 2 to the power or whatever together and that is your answer. The binary number 110010101 to decimal is 405. You do the same thing for the decimal number 529, but this time you multiply 2^2 or 4 by 5 which is 20, then 2^1 which is 2 by 2 which is 4 and so on. The final addition binary number is 33.

A positional number system is for example taking the number 529 and assignment positions for each of the three numbers. The 5 would be the hundreds position, the 2 in the tens position, and the 9 in the ones position. A non-positional number system does not require each position to be positional itself.