Base 4 to Base 42

Base 4

In base 4, each digit position represents a power of 4: the rightmost digit counts individual ones, the next counts groups of 4, the next counts groups of 4×4, and so on — the same place-value idea as base 10, just with 4 distinct digits instead of ten.

Base 42

Base 42 works the same way: the rightmost digit counts ones, the next counts groups of 42, the next counts groups of 42×42, and so on, using 42 distinct digits.