Calculate -3 + 3 using Two's Complement and the Sign and Magnitude Method. Which works correctly?

Using the Two's complement notation of -3 and 3 (11111101 and 00000011), binary addition will return 100000000 which has an overflow error, so the 9th bit is ignored giving a value of 00000000 which is equal to 0. We know this is correct since it matches the true value of -3 + 3. Using the sign and magnitude nation of -3 and 3 (10000011 and 00000011), binary addition will return 10000110 which is equal to 134. Clearly this isn't correct and we can see that Sign and Magnitude method doesn't work with binary arithmetic. Informative poster: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cDdWKai0_t8wjGrcmaI8pjDV2aBnd0Qn

MJ
Answered by Mark J. Computing tutor

3127 Views

See similar Computing A Level tutors

Related Computing A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is 55 using 8-bit unsigned binary?


Why would you use Assembly Language instead of a normal programming language?


What is an Algorithm?


Explain the difference between lossless and lossy data compression techniques.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning