twos complement
<data> A system used in some computers to represent negative numbers in
binary. Each bit of the number is inverted (zeros are replaced with ones and
vice versa), as for ones complement, but then one (000...0001) is added
(ignoring overflow). This avoids the two representations for zero found in ones
complement by using all ones to represent -1.
...
000...00011 = +3
000...00010 = +2
000...00001 = +1
000...00000 = 0
111...11111 = -1
111...11110 = -2
111...11101 = -3
...
This representation simplifies the logic required for addition and
subtraction, at the expense of a little extra
complexity for negation.
(1994-10-31)
Nearby terms:
two-binary, one-quaternary « twonkie « two-phase
commit «
twos complement » two-to-the-N » two-valued
logic » TX-0
|
