This question asks for the octal equivalent of the binary number \( 100101_2 \). Instead of grouping the bits directly into sets of three, this method takes a two-hop route: first convert the binary number to decimal, then convert that decimal value to octal.
Expand the binary number using powers of 2, starting from the rightmost bit at \( 2^0 \):
\[ 100101_2 = (1 \times 2^5) + (0 \times 2^4) + (0 \times 2^3) + (1 \times 2^2) + (0 \times 2^1) + (1 \times 2^0) \]\[ = 32 + 0 + 0 + 4 + 0 + 1 = 37 \]So the decimal equivalent of \( 100101_2 \) is \( 37 \).
Now convert \( 37 \) to octal using successive division by 8, recording the remainders:
\[ 37 \div 8 = 4 \text{ remainder } 5 \]\[ 4 \div 8 = 0 \text{ remainder } 4 \]Reading the remainders from bottom to top gives \( 45_8 \).
Taking this decimal detour lands on exactly the same result as grouping the bits directly, which confirms the conversion is correct.
Therefore, the correct answer is 45.