With binary we need a method of representing numbers. The simplest way to do this (though not the best) is to use the and magnitude method. In sign and magnitude binary, a number is expressed using a combination of a and a (the absolute value of the number). They combine together to make the full signed number. The sign bit indicates positive (0) or (1) and the rest of the number is just a normal binary number. In the example above, the number -25 is represented by the sign bit (1) and the absolute value (11001).
Sign and Magnitude has two key issues. In sign and magnitude representation, there are two representations of - one positive (all bits set to 0) and one negative (sign bit set to 1, all other bits set to 0). This can cause confusion and lead to errors in calculations and . For example, 0000 = 0; 1000 = 0. Performing arithmetic operations, such as addition and subtraction, on sign and magnitude numbers can be . Additional logic is required to handle the signs, which makes the operations more difficult and processor to implement using digital circuitry.
Keywords
zero | magnitude | negative | complex | intensive | sign bit | comparisons | sign | negative |
