Base 2
Addition and Subtraction
Assembly language programming
By xorpd xorpd.net
Objectives
• We discuss the decimal representation system and some
of its features.
• We study how to represent numbers using only two
symbols: 0 and 1.
• This is called binary representation.
• We study how to add and subtract numbers using the
binary representation.
Why is this important?
• Computer parts are engineered to understand only two
symbols: 0 and 1.
• 0 means low voltage, and 1 means high voltage.
• Everything in the computer's software is eventually
constructed from 0 and 1 symbols. That is – binary numbers.
• In order to instruct the processor to do the things you want,
you must be able to speak his language.
• Understanding binary numbers is crucial for your
understanding of anything low level in the computer,
especially assembly programming
Decimal representation
• We make a daily use of the decimal representation, also
known as “base 10”.
• It is the most common numbers representation among human
beings.
• If you survived so far in our culture, you probably know how to
use it.
• Decimal means 10.
• The decimal representation uses 10 different symbols
(0,1,2,...,9) to represent numbers.
Decimal representation (Cont.)
• The significance of every digit is related to its location in the
number - Also called positional notation.
• 12513 = 3 ⋅ 100 + 1 ⋅ 101 + 5 ⋅ 102 + 2 ⋅ 103 + 1 ⋅ 104
= 3 + 1 ⋅ 10 + 5 ⋅ 100 + 2 ⋅ 1000 + 1 ⋅ 10000
• Leading zeroes don’t change the value of the number.
Why you should care
• It is easy to underestimate the wisdom in this numeric system.
• There were times and places in the history of human beings where
people were struggling with much stranger numeric systems.
• Numeric representations are ways to keep in memory or
communicate the quantity of something.
• The quantity and the representation are not the same thing.
• If you don’t know about any smart numeric system, in order to
communicate a quantity to someone else you actually have to show
him the quantity.
• That is very wasteful.
Why you should care (Cont.)
• This is how 23 looks like if you don’t know about any numeric
system:
• What if you wanted to represent 1000000 in the same method?
• Different numeric systems invoke different thoughts and ideas about
the nature of numbers.
Features of the decimal system
• The decimal system allows to represent very large numbers with not
so many digits.
• 𝑘 digits are enough to generate a number as big as 10𝑘 .
• Arithmetic is pretty easy:
• Easy to add and subtract numbers when they are in the decimal
representation.
• Relatively easy to multiply and divide numbers in the decimal
representation. (Though not as easy as adding or subtracting).
• It is easy to check divisibility of a decimally represented number by
2,4,5,10. It is also not very hard to check divisibility by 3,9 and 11.
Generalizing positional notation
• Choosing 10 as a base number is pretty arbitrary.
• We could choose any other base number to create a new number
representation system.
• For example, in base 5:
• we will have exactly five symbols: 0,1,2,3,4.
• 124035 = 3 ⋅ 50 + 0 ⋅ 51 + 4 ⋅ 52 + 2 ⋅ 53 + 1 ⋅ 54 = 97810 .
• Base 2
• About the lowest we could get, while having a useful experience.
• Only two symbols: 0 and 1. Every binary digit is called bit.
• Example: 11012 = 1 ⋅ 20 + 0 ⋅ 21 + 1 ⋅ 22 + 1 ⋅ 23 = 1310
• Life in base 2 is mostly like in base 10.
• maybe even better.
Addition in base 2
• Addition is done just like in the decimal case.
• Align the two summands to the right, and add digit by digit.
• If the sum is larger than the base, move the carry to the next
position.
• Basic examples:
• 02 + 12 = 12
• 12 + 12 = 102
• 112 + 12 = 1002
• 11112 + 12 = 100002
Addition in base 2 (Cont.)
• Larger example: 101102 + 11102 =?
Subtraction in base 2
• Example: 11012 − 1002 =?
Subtraction in base 2 (Cont.)
• Example: 1002 − 12 =?
• In some cases subtraction could be less fun than addition.
Subtraction in base 2 (Cont.)
• Example: 1001002 − 101102 =?
Exercises
• Adding numbers.
• Subtracting numbers.
• Enjoy :)
