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---
title: Integer Encoding
TARGET DECK: Obsidian::STEM
FILE TAGS: binary
tags:
- binary
---
## Overview
Integers are typically encoded using either **unsigned encoding** or **two's-complement**. The following table highlights how the min and max of these encodings behave:
Value | $w = 8$ | $w = 16$ | $w = 32$
-------- | ------- | -------- | ------------
$UMin_w$ | `0x00` | `0x0000` | `0x00000000`
$UMax_w$ | `0xFF` | `0xFFFF` | `0xFFFFFFFF`
$TMin_w$ | `0x80` | `0x8000` | `0x80000000`
$TMax_w$ | `0x7F` | `0x7FFF` | `0x7FFFFFFF`
%%ANKI
Basic
What is a C integral type?
Back: A type representing finite ranges of integers.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708177246087-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
In what two ways are C integral types encoded?
Back: Unsigned encoding or two's-complement.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708177246093-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
An integral value of $0_{10}$ likely has what encoding?
Back: Either unsigned or two's-complement.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708177246105-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
An integral value of $100_{10}$ likely has what encoding?
Back: Either unsigned or two's-complement.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708177246109-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
An integral value of $-100_{10}$ likely has what encoding?
Back: Two's-complement.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708177246114-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Which of unsigned encoding or two's-complement exhibit asymmetry in their range?
Back: Two's-complement.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708453398379-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What integral values share the same binary representation in unsigned encoding and two's-complement?
Back: Nonnegative values $\leq TMax$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708454709515-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
According to the C standard, how are `unsigned` integral types encoded?
Back: Using unsigned encoding.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708455064691-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
According to the C standard, how are `signed` integral types encoded?
Back: The C standard leaves this unspecified.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708455064696-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
According to the C standard, Is `unsigned` overflow well-defined?
Back: Yes
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708551236389-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
According to the C standard, Is `signed` overflow well-defined?
Back: No
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708551236392-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Why is `signed` underflow/overflow considered UB?
Back: Because there is no requirement on how `signed` integers are encoded.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708551236395-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How does $UMax$ relate to $TMax$?
Back: $UMax = 2 \cdot TMax + 1$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708453398445-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Provide a combinatorial explanation on why $UMax$ equals $2 \cdot TMax + 1$.
Back: There is one more negative number than positive numbers represented in two's-complement.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708613447880-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What are the binary encodings of $UMax_4$ and $TMax_4$?
Back: $1111_2$ and $0111_2$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708453398449-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Reinterpret $TMax$ in unsigned encoding. What arithmetic operations yield $UMax$?
Back: Multiply by two and add one.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708453398454-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Reinterpret $TMax$ in unsigned encoding. What bitwise operations yield $UMax$?
Back: One-bit left shift and add one.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708453398459-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Reinterpret $UMax$ in two's-complement. What decimal value do you have?
Back: $-1$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708453398469-->
END%%
### Unsigned Encoding
Always represents nonnegative numbers. Given an integral type $\vec{x}$ of $w$ bits, we convert binary to its unsigned encoding with: $$B2U_w(\vec{x}) = 2^{w-1}x_{w-1} + \sum_{i=0}^{w-2} 2^ix_i$$
Note we unfold the summation on the RHS by one term to make it's relationship to $T2U_w$ clearer.
%%ANKI
Basic
What does $UMin_w$ evaluate to?
Back: $0$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708545383256-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What does $UMax_w$ evaluate to?
Back: $2^w - 1$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708545383258-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What half-open interval represents the possible $w$-bit unsigned decimal values?
Back: $[0, 2^w)$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708177246128-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the binary representation of the smallest $4$-bit unsigned number?
Back: $0000_2$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708177246133-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the binary representation of the largest $4$-bit unsigned number?
Back: $1111_2$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708177246138-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the decimal expansion of unsigned integer $1010_2$?
Back: $2^3 + 2^1 = 10$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708177246143-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What does the "uniqueness" of unsigned encoding refer to?
Back: The function used to convert integral types to their unsigned encoding is a bijection.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708177246148-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How does Bryant et al. define $B2U_w$?
Back: $B2U_w(\vec{x}) = 2^{w-1}x_{w-1} + \sum_{i=0}^{w-2} 2^ix_i$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179147785-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is $B2U_w$ an acronym for?
Back: **B**inary to **u**nsigned, width $w$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179147791-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is $U2B_w$ an acronym for?
Back: **U**nsigned to **b**inary, width $w$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708613447885-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What does $w$ in $B2U_w$ represent?
Back: The number of bits in the integral type being interpreted.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179147795-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the domain of $B2U_w$?
Back: Bit strings of size $w$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179147798-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the domain of $U2B_w$?
Back: $[0, 2^w)$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708613447888-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the range of $B2U_w$?
Back: $[0, 2^w)$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179147801-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the range of $U2B_w$?
Back: Bit strings of length $w$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708613447891-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is the smallest unsigned integer formatted in hexadecimal?
Back: As all `0`s.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708453398392-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is the largest unsigned integer formatted in hexadecimal?
Back: As all `F`s.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708453398403-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How does $n$ relate to $\textasciitilde n$ in unsigned encoding?
Back: $n + \textasciitilde n = UMax$
Reference: “Two’s-Complement.” In *Wikipedia*, January 9, 2024. [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561).
<!--ID: 1708545383259-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Using unsigned encoding, *why* does $n + \textasciitilde n = UMax$?
Back: Because the sum always yields a bit string of all `1`s.
Reference: “Two’s-Complement.” In *Wikipedia*, January 9, 2024. [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561).
<!--ID: 1708545574154-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Regardless of word size, what bitwise operations yield $UMax$?
Back: `~0`
Reference: “Two’s-Complement.” In *Wikipedia*, January 9, 2024. [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561).
<!--ID: 1708545383261-->
END%%
### Two's-Complement
Represents negative numbers along with nonnegative ones. Given an integral type $\vec{x}$ of $w$ bits, we convert binary to its twos'-complement encoding with: $$B2T_w(\vec{x}) = -2^{w-1}x_{w-1} + \sum_{i=0}^{w-2} 2^ix_i$$
%%ANKI
Basic
What does $TMin_w$ evaluate to?
Back: $-2^{w-1}$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708545383252-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What does $TMax_w$ evaluate to?
Back: $2^{w-1} - 1$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708545383255-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How do $TMin$ and $TMax$ relate to one another?
Back: $TMin = -TMax - 1$
<!--ID: 1708609869518-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What half-open interval represents the possible $w$-bit two's-complement decimal values?
Back: $[-2^{w-1}, 2^{w-1})$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708177246128-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
$[${1:$0$}, {2:$2^w$}$)$ is to unsigned as $[${1:$-2^{w-1}$}, {2:$2^{w-1}$}$)$ is to two's-complement.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179147813-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the binary representation of the smallest $4$-bit two's-complement number?
Back: $1000_2$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179649872-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the binary representation of the largest $4$-bit two's-complement number?
Back: $0111_2$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179649876-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
The {sign bit} refers to the {most significant bit} in two's-complement.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179649881-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the weight of the sign bit in $w$-bit two's-complement?
Back: $-2^{w-1}$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179649887-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What does the "uniqueness" of two's-complement refer to?
Back: The function used to convert integral types to two's-complement is a bijection.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179649894-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How does Bryant et al. define $B2T_w$?
Back: $B2T_w(\vec{x}) = -2^{w-1}x_{w-1} + \sum_{i=0}^{w-2} 2^ix_i$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179649901-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is $B2T_w$ an acronym for?
Back: **B**inary to **t**wo's-complement, width $w$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179649907-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is $T2B_w$ an acronym for?
Back: **T**wo's-complement to **b**inary, width $w$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708613447895-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What does $w$ in $B2T_w$ represent?
Back: The number of bits in the integral type being interpreted.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179649913-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the domain of $B2T_w$?
Back: Bit strings of size $w$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179649921-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the domain of $T2B_w$?
Back: $[-2^{w-1}, 2^{w-1})$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708613447899-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the range of $B2T_w$?
Back: $[-2^{w-1}, 2^{w-1})$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708179649928-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the range of $T2B_w$?
Back: Bit strings of length $w$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708613447903-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is the smallest two's-complement integer formatted in hexadecimal?
Back: With a leading `8` followed by `0`s.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708453398413-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is the largest two's-complement integer formatted in hexadecimal?
Back: With a leading `7` followed by `F`s.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708453398425-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is equality $|TMin| = |TMax|$ modified so that both sides actually balance?
Back: $|TMin| = |TMax| + 1$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708453398430-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Which of negative and positive numbers can two's-complement encoding express more of?
Back: Negative.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708453398435-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Why is two's-complement's encoding range asymmetric?
Back: Leading `1`s correspond to negatives but leading `0`s corerspond to nonnegative numbers (which include $0$).
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708453398440-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What are the median values of two's-complement's encoding range?
Back: `-1` and `0`
Reference: “Two’s-Complement.” In *Wikipedia*, January 9, 2024. [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561).
<!--ID: 1708545383262-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
In two's-complement, the {sign bit} partitions the encoding range into two sets.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708545383265-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Why is two's-complement named the way it is?
Back: Because there is only one $2$ in $2^w - x$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1709060837130-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Given two's-complement $x \geq 0$, what is the significance of $2^w - x$?
Back: The result is the binary representation of $-x$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1709060849456-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Let $x$ be a $w$-bit two's-complement number. What is it's complement?
Back: The number $y$ such that $x + y = 2^w$.
Reference: “Two’s-Complement.” In *Wikipedia*, January 9, 2024. [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561).
<!--ID: 1709060837141-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the precise definition of the two's-complement of a $w$-bit number?
Back: The complement of $x$ with respect to $2^w$.
Reference: “Two’s-Complement.” In *Wikipedia*, January 9, 2024. [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561).
<!--ID: 1709060837145-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
With respect to two's-complement encoding, what is the "weird number"?
Back: $TMin$
Reference: “Two’s-Complement.” In *Wikipedia*, January 9, 2024. [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561).
<!--ID: 1709060837149-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Why is $TMin$ called the "weird number"?
Back: It is the only number that is it's own complement.
Reference: “Two’s-Complement.” In *Wikipedia*, January 9, 2024. [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561).
<!--ID: 1709060837151-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is $2^w - x$ written schematically, fixed to $w = 8$ bits?
Back:
```
00000000
- x
----------
...
```
Reference: Finley, Thomas. “Two’s Complement,” April 2000. [https://www.cs.cornell.edu/~tomf/notes/cps104/twoscomp.html](https://www.cs.cornell.edu/~tomf/notes/cps104/twoscomp.html).
<!--ID: 1709060837154-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is the following rewritten to emphasize why "two's-complement" is named the way it is?
```
00000000
- 01010101
----------
...
```
Back:
```
100000000
- 01010101
-----------
...
```
Reference: Finley, Thomas. “Two’s Complement,” April 2000. [https://www.cs.cornell.edu/~tomf/notes/cps104/twoscomp.html](https://www.cs.cornell.edu/~tomf/notes/cps104/twoscomp.html).
<!--ID: 1709060837156-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is the following rewritten to emphasize two's-complement's idea of "invert and add one"?
```
100000000
- 01010101
-----------
...
```
Back:
```
1
+ 11111111
- 01010101
----------
...
```
Reference: Finley, Thomas. “Two’s Complement,” April 2000. [https://www.cs.cornell.edu/~tomf/notes/cps104/twoscomp.html](https://www.cs.cornell.edu/~tomf/notes/cps104/twoscomp.html).
<!--ID: 1709060837160-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
Subtracting $x$ from {a number of all `1` bits} is equivalent to {`~x`}.
Reference: Finley, Thomas. “Two’s Complement,” April 2000. [https://www.cs.cornell.edu/~tomf/notes/cps104/twoscomp.html](https://www.cs.cornell.edu/~tomf/notes/cps104/twoscomp.html).
<!--ID: 1709061032778-->
END%%
## Casting
Most implementations of C cast an object of one type to another by simply re-interpreting the object's binary representation. This casting may happen implicitly if comparing or operating on e.g. `signed` and `unsigned` objects in the same expression. $T2U$ and $U2T$ reflect this method of casting:
$$T2U_w(x) = \begin{cases}
x + 2^w & x < 0 \\
x & x \geq 0
\end{cases}$$
$$U2T_w(x) = \begin{cases}
x & x \leq TMax_w \\
x - 2^w & x > TMax_w
\end{cases}$$
%%ANKI
Basic
How do most implementations of C perform casting?
Back: As a reinterpretation of the same byte pattern of the object being casted.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708615249879-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is $T2U_w$ an acronym for?
Back: **T**wo's-complement to **u**nsigned, width $w$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708615249883-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
For what values $x$ does $T2U_w(x) = U2T_w(x) = x$?
Back: $0 \leq x \leq TMax_w$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708696117167-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What values $x$ are unaffected when casting from `signed` to `unsigned`?
Back: $0 \leq x \leq TMax_w$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708615249891-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What values $x$ are unaffected when casting from `unsigned` to `signed`?
Back: $0 \leq x \leq TMax_w$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708615249897-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How are casts implicitly performed in operations containing `signed` and `unsigned` objects?
Back: `signed` objects are cast to `unsigned` objects.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708615249903-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
For {$x < 0$}, $T2U_w(x) =$ {$x + 2^w$}.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708615249908-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
For {$x \geq 0$}, $T2U_w(x) =$ {$x$}.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708615249914-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is $T2U_w$ written as a function composition?
Back: $T2U_w = B2U_w \circ T2B_w$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708615249920-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is $U2T_w$ an acronym for?
Back: **U**nsigned to **t**wo's-complement, width $w$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708615249925-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is $U2T_w$ written as a function composition?
Back: $U2T_w = B2T_w \circ U2B_w$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708615249930-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
For {$x > TMax_w$}, $U2T_w(x) =$ {$x - 2^w$}.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708615249935-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
For {$x \leq TMax_w$}, $U2T_w(x) =$ {$x$}.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708615249939-->
END%%
### Expansion
For unsigned encoding, use **zero extension** to convert numbers to larger types. For example, $1010_2$ can be expanded to 8-bit $00001010_2$.
%%ANKI
Cloze
Use {zero} extension to convert {unsigned} numbers to larger types.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708697867799-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Zero extension is generally used for what type of integer encoding?
Back: Unsigned.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708697867807-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
*Why* does zero extension of unsigned numbers work?
Back: The weights of additional bits are zeroed out.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708697867810-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
*Why* does zero extension of two's-complement numbers generally not work?
Back: A negative value would have its new sign bit be positive.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708697867814-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is $\langle x_3, x_2, x_1, x_0 \rangle$ zero extended to 8 bits?
Back: As $\langle 0, 0, 0, 0, x_3, x_2, x_1, x_0 \rangle$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708697867818-->
END%%
For two's-complement, use **sign extension** to convert numbers to larger types. This means the additional leftmost bits are set to match the sign bit of the original number. For example, $1010_2$ can be expanded to 8-bit $11111010_2$.
%%ANKI
Cloze
Use {sign} extension to convert {two's-complement} numbers to larger types.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708697867821-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Sign extension is generally used for what type of integer encoding?
Back: Two's-complement.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708697867825-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
*Why* does sign extension of two's-complement numbers work?
Back: The new sign bit weight is equal to the swing in the previous sign bit weight.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708697867829-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
*Why* does sign extension of unsigned numbers generally not work?
Back: It actually does, though we technically call it zero extension.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708697867833-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is $\langle x_3, x_2, x_1, x_0 \rangle$ sign extended to 8 bits?
Back: As $\langle x_3, x_3, x_3, x_3, x_3, x_2, x_1, x_0 \rangle$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708697867839-->
END%%
### Truncation
Let $$\begin{align*}
x & = \langle x_{w-1}, \ldots, x_1, x_0 \rangle \\
x' & = \langle x_{k-1}, \ldots, x_1, x_0 \rangle
\end{align*}$$
Then in unsigned encoding, truncating $x$ to $k$ bits is equal to $x \bmod 2^k$. This is because $x_i \bmod 2^k = 0$ for all $i \geq k$ meaning $$B2U_k(x') = B2U_w(x) \bmod 2^k$$
%%ANKI
Basic
What bit string results from truncating $\langle x_{w-1}, \ldots, x_1, x_0 \rangle$ to $k$ bits?
Back: $\langle x_{k-1}, \ldots, x_1, x_0 \rangle$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708700130849-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the decimal value of truncating unsigned $x$ to $k$ bits?
Back: $x \bmod 2^k$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708700130856-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
*Why* does truncating unsigned $x$ to $k$ bits yield $x \bmod 2^k$?
Back: $\bmod 2^k$ is a convenient way of "zero-ing" out bits $x_{w-1}, \ldots, x_k$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708700130859-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is the following equality balanced for $k \leq w$? $$B2U_w(\langle x_{w-1}, \ldots, x_1, x_0 \rangle) = B2U_k(\langle x_{k-1}, \ldots, x_1, x_0 \rangle)$$
Back: $$B2U_w(\langle x_{w-1}, \ldots, x_1, x_0 \rangle) \bmod 2^k = B2U_k(\langle x_{k-1}, \ldots, x_1, x_0 \rangle)$$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708700225123-->
END%%
In two's-complement encoding, truncating $x$ to $k$ bits is equal to $U2T_k(T2U_w(x) \bmod 2^k)$. Like with unsigned truncation, $B2U_k(x') = B2U_w(x) \bmod 2^k$. Therefore $$U2T_k(B2U_k(x')) = U2T_k(B2U_w(x) \bmod 2^k)$$
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the $k$-truncation of $w$-bit two's-complement $x$?
Back: $U2T_k(T2U_w(x) \bmod 2^k)$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708701087974-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
Two's-complement $k$-truncation of $w$-bit $x$ is {$U2T_k$}$(${$T2U_w(x) \bmod 2^k$}$)$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708701087985-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the purpose of $U2T_k$ in two's-complement truncation expression $U2T_k(T2U_w(x) \bmod 2^k)$?
Back: To reinterpret the sign bit correctly.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708702794304-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the purpose of $T2U_w$ in two's-complement truncation expression $U2T_k(T2U_w(x) \bmod 2^k)$?
Back: To ensure $x$ is encoded with the right "type".
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708702794309-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Why isn't $T2U_w$ in two's-complement truncation $U2T_k(T2U_w(x) \bmod 2^k)$ strictly necessary?
Back: $x \bmod 2^k$ will always yield an integer in range $[0, 2^k)$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708702794313-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What additional steps does calculating two's-complement truncation have?
Back: Casting to and from unsigned encoding.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708701087982-->
END%%
## Arithmetic
### Addition
Addition of two unsigned or two two's-complement numbers operate in much the same way as grade-school arithmetic. Digits are added one-by-one and overflows "carried" to the next summation. Overflows are truncated; the final carry bit is discarded in the underlying bit adder.
%%ANKI
Basic
*Why* is adding $w$-bit integral types equal to $w$-bit truncation?
Back: The underlying bit adder discards any final carry bit.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678721-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Why should you generally prefer `x < y` over `x - y < 0`?
Back: The former avoids possible underflows.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678725-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is `x - y < 0` rewritten more safely?
Back: `x < y`
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678728-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What hardware-level advantage does two's-complement introduce over other signed encodings?
Back: The same circuits can be used for unsigned and two's-complement addition.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678732-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What representational-level advantage does two's-complement introduce over other signed encodings?
Back: `0` is encoded in only one way.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678736-->
END%%
Unsigned addition of $w$-bit integral types, denoted $+_w^u$, behaves like so:
$$x +_w^u y = \begin{cases}
x + y - 2^w & \text{if } x + y \geq 2^w \\
x + y & \text{otherwise}
\end{cases}$$
This is more simply expressed as $x +_w^u y = (x + y) \bmod 2^w$.
%%ANKI
Basic
What kind of overflows does unsigned addition potentially exhibit?
Back: Positive overflow.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678739-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Why is unsigned addition overflow *not* UB?
Back: Because the C standard enforces unsigned encoding of `unsigned` data types.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708799678742-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What does $+_w^u$ denote?
Back: Unsigned addition of $w$-bit integral types.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678745-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Unsigned addition overflow is equivalent to what bit-level manipulation tactic?
Back: Truncation.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678748-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the result of $x +_w^u y$?
Back: $(x + y) \bmod 2^w$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678751-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
*Why* does $x +_w^u y = (x + y) \bmod 2^w$?
Back: Because discarding any carry bit is equivalent to truncating the sum to $w$ bits.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678755-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
Without using modular arithmetic, $x +_w^u y =$ {$x + y$} if {$x + y < 2^w$}.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678758-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
Without using modular arithmetic, $x +_w^u y =$ {$x + y - 2^w$} if {$x + y \geq 2^w$}.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678761-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How do you detect whether unsigned addition $s \coloneqq x +_w^u y$ overflowed?
Back: Overflow occurs if and only if $s < x$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678765-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How would you complete the body of this function?
```c
/* Determine whether arguments can be added without overflow */
int uadd_ok(unsigned x, unsigned y);
```
Back:
```c
return (x + y) >= x;
```
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678769-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Does unsigned overflow detection depend on the left or right operand of $s \coloneqq x +_w^u y$?
Back: Either.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678772-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Why can we compare $s$ to $x$ or $y$ when detecting overflow of $s \coloneqq x +_w^u y$?
Back: Because unsigned addition is commutative.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708799678776-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Given integer $0 < x < 2^w$, what is $x$'s unsigned additive inverse?
Back: $2^w - x$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708808252010-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Which unsigned integer is its own additive inverse?
Back: $0$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708808252017-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What bitwise operations yield the additive inverse of an unsigned number $x$?
Back: `~x + 1`
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1709042784783-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Given unsigned integer `x`, what is the value of `x + ~x`?
Back: $UMax$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1709042784788-->
END%%
Two's-complement addition, denoted $+_w^t$ operates similarly:
$$x +_w^u y = \begin{cases}
x + y - 2^w & \text{if } x + y \geq 2^{w-1} \\
x + y + 2^w & \text{if } x + y < -2^{w-1} \\
x + y & \text{otherwise}
\end{cases}$$
Unlike with unsigned addition, there is no simpler modulus operation that can be applied.
%%ANKI
Basic
What kind of overflows does two's-complement addition potentially exhibit?
Back: Positive and negative overflow.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708964376220-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Why is two's-complement addition overflow UB?
Back: Because the C standard does not mandate any particular signed integer encoding.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708964376225-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What does $+_w^t$ denote?
Back: Two's-complement addition of $w$-bit integral types.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708964376228-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
*Why* doesn't two's-complement addition perform modular arithmetic?
Back: Because negative values are representable.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708964376231-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
$x +_w^t y =$ {$x + y - 2^w$} if {$x + y \geq 2^{w-1}$}.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708964376235-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
$x +_w^t y =$ {$x + y + 2^w$} if {$x + y < -2^{w-1}$}.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708964376238-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
$x +_w^t y =$ {$x + y$} if {$-2^{w-1} \leq x + y < 2^{w-1}$}.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708964376242-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How do we detect $x +_w^t y$ positive overflowed?
Back: This happens iff $x > 0$, $y > 0$, and $x +_w^t y \leq 0$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708964376246-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How do we detect $x +_w^t y$ negative overflowed?
Back: This happens iff $x < 0$, $y < 0$, and $x +_w^t y \geq 0$.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708964376250-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How can we write $x +_w^t y$ in terms of unsigned addition?
Back: $x +_w^t y = U2T_w(T2U_w(x) +_w^u T2U_w(y))$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708964376254-->
END%%
%%ANKI
*Why* are we able to characterize $+_w^t$ in terms of $+_w^u$?
Back: Because two's-complement addition has the same bit-level representation as unsigned addition.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How would you complete the body of this function?
```c
/* Determine whether arguments can be added without overflow */
int tadd_ok(int x, int y);
```
Back:
```c
int pos_over = x > 0 && y > 0 && (x + y) <= 0;
int neg_over = x < 0 && y < 0 && (x + y) >= 0;
return !pos_over && !neg_over;
```
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708964376259-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Given integer $-2^{w-1} < x < 2^{w-1}$, what is $x$'s two's-complement additive inverse?
Back: $-x$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1709040965774-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the additive inverse of $TMin$?
Back: $TMin$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1709040965804-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the additive inverse of $TMax$?
Back: $-TMax$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1709040965810-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Which two's-complement integer is its own additive inverse?
Back: $TMin$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
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%%ANKI
Basic
What bitwise operations yield the additive inverse of two's-complement number $x$?
Back: `~x + 1`
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
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END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Given two's-complement integer `x`, what is the value of `x + ~x`?
Back: $-1$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
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END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What "splitting" approach to $x$'s two's-complement negation does Bryant et al. describe?
Back: Find the rightmost $1$ in $x$'s bit string representation and complement the bits to its left.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
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END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Where do we "split" $x$'s binary representation to perform two's-complement negation?
Back: At the rightmost $1$ in $x$'s binary representation.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1709042784800-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Using *just* `~`, what is the two's-complement negation of $\langle x_{w-1}, \ldots, x_{k+1}, 1, 0, \ldots, 0\rangle$?
Back: $\langle \textasciitilde x_{w-1}, \ldots, \textasciitilde x_{k+1}, 1, 0, \ldots, 0 \rangle$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1709042784803-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
*Why* does complementing and adding one yield integer $x$'s additive inverse?
Back: `x + ~x` yields a bit string of all `1`s. Adding `1` to this overflows.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1709042784806-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What decimal value does two's-complement `~x` evaluate to?
Back: `-x - 1`
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
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END%%
### Shifting
Left shift operations (`<<`) drop the `k` most significant bits and fills the right end of the result with `k` zeros. Right shift operations (`>>`) are classified in two ways:
* **Logical**
* Drops the `k` least significant bits and fills the left end of the result with `k` zeros.
* This mode is always used when calling `>>` on unsigned data.
* Sometimes denoted as `>>>` to disambiguate from arithmetic right shifts.
* **Arithmetic**
* Drops the `k` least significant bits and fills the left end of the result with `k` copies of the most significant bit.
* This mode is usually used when calling `>>` on signed data.
%%ANKI
Basic
How is decimal value $2^n$ written in binary?
Back: As `1` followed by $n$ zeros.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1707432641574-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What kinds of left shift operations are there?
Back: Just logical.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1707854589773-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How many significant bits are dropped on a left shift by `k`?
Back: `k`
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708784904518-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How many `0`s exist in the result of a left shift by `k`?
Back: At least `k`.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1708784904521-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What kinds of right shift operations are there?
Back: Logical and arithmetic
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1707854589784-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is a logical right shift operation?
Back: One that fills the left end of the result with zeros.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1707854589786-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is an arithmetic right shift operation?
Back: One that fills the left end of the result with copies of the most significant bit.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1707854589789-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What kind of right shift operation is *usually* applied to signed numbers?
Back: Arithmetic.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1707854589801-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What kind of right shift operation is applied to unsigned numbers?
Back: Logical.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
<!--ID: 1707854589804-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What portability issue do shift operations introduce?
Back: There is no standard on whether right shifts of signed numbers are logical or arithmetic.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
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END%%
%%ANKI
Cloze
{1:Arithmetic} right shifts are to {1:signed} numbers whereas {2:logical} right shifts are to {2:unsigned} numbers.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
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END%%
In C, it is undefined behavior to shift by more than the width $w$ of an integral type.
%%ANKI
Basic
Assuming two's-complement, what is the result of shifting an `int32_t` value by `32`?
Back: It is undefined behavior.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
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END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
Assuming two's-complement, what is the result of shifting an `int32_t` value by `31`?
Back: $-2^{31}$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708785613370-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the result of shifting an `int32_t` value by `-1`?
Back: It is undefined behavior.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708785613376-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the result of shifting an `uint32_t` value by `32`?
Back: It is undefined behavior.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708785613383-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the result of shifting an `uint32_t` value by `31`?
Back: $2^{31}$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708785613389-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What is the result of shifting an `uint32_t` value by `-1`?
Back: It is undefined behavior.
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708785613393-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is $2^n$ written using bitwise shift operators?
Back: `1 << n`
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708784904524-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
What decimal value does `1 << n` translate to?
Back: $2^n$
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1708784904526-->
END%%
%%ANKI
Basic
How is $x \bmod 2^k$ equivalently written as a bit mask?
Back: `x & ((1 << k) - 1)`
Reference: Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
Tags: c17
<!--ID: 1707873410780-->
END%%
## References
* Bryant, Randal E., and David O'Hallaron. *Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective*. Third edition, Global edition. Always Learning. Pearson, 2016.
* Finley, Thomas. “Two’s Complement,” April 2000. [https://www.cs.cornell.edu/~tomf/notes/cps104/twoscomp.html](https://www.cs.cornell.edu/~tomf/notes/cps104/twoscomp.html).
* Ronald L. Graham, Donald Ervin Knuth, and Oren Patashnik, *Concrete Mathematics: A Foundation for Computer Science*, 2nd ed (Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley, 1994).
* “Two’s-Complement.” In *Wikipedia*, January 9, 2024. [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Two%27s_complement&oldid=1194543561).
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