Why learn about Number Bases and Bitwise Operations?

Understanding the correlation between binary, hex and decimal numbers is essential when it comes to working with low-level / bare-metal embedded software, mainly because computers work only with binary numbers, which we humans find difficult to work with, however there's a direct correlation between hexadecimal and binary whereby four 'bits' of binary equate to exactly one character in hex.

This correlation doesn't exist between binary and decimal, so often hex numbers are used when manipulating 'bits' within a value, and this is something you'll do a lot in embedded software as each 'bit' within a 'Control Register' in a micro has a specific functionality, so you'll need to be able to switch specific bits on or off to make the micro do what you want.