. What is the sign-and-magnitude of the following 4's complement number? (Leave answer in base 4).

Dec 12, 2006 4 Replies

What is the sign-and-magnitude of the following 4's complement number? (Leave answer in base 4).



The number: 33333210 (base 4)



Hi, Ive been asked the following question and although slightly familary with compure match and storage, i can't figure this. I gather it needs converting


Thanks a lot in advance



Paul



May I suggest looking at Isreal Koren's "Computer Arithmetic Algorithms". He has a pretty good treatment of number systems in there.

Well, sometimes we help with homework, sometimes we don't - I'll give a little help.

As it's better if you do the conversion yourself, consider that a base

4 number is in fact two bits in base 2 (if you want to use a calculator). The sign of the number is obvious from inspection.

If it's positive, then the answer is the value stated.

if it's negative, then simply subtract the above number from 400000000 (base 4) or alternatively, subtract the number from 33333333 and add 1.

If you have some reason other than homework to ask, do tell :)

Cheers

PeteS

Be aware that the answer depends on the word size - if it's a 16 bit number I'd give one answer; if it's larger (say 32 bit) I'd give another answer.

- Brian

(snip)

You mean 8 quits, not 16 bits.

bits, trits, quits, quints, ...

-- glen

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