Binary addition
Binary addition is a fundamental operation in computers and is used extensively in arithmetic and logical operations. It involves adding two binary numbers together using a set of rules similar to those used in decimal addition. In binary, there are only two digits: 0 and 1.
To perform binary addition, you start by adding the rightmost digits (the least significant bits) together. If the sum of the two digits is 0 or 1, you write that digit as the result. If the sum is 2, you write down 0 and carry the 1 to the next column. If the sum is 3, you write down 1 and carry the 1 to the next column.
Here’s an example of binary addition:
1101 (13 in decimal)
+ 1010 (10 in decimal)
-------
10111 (27 in decimal)Let’s go through the steps:
- Start by adding the rightmost digits: 1 + 0 = 1.
- Move to the next column and add the digits: 0 + 1 = 1.
- Move to the next column and add the digits: 1 + 0 = 1.
- Move to the next column and add the digits: 1 + 1 = 10. Write down 0 and carry the 1.
- Finally, add the carried 1 to the leftmost column: 1 + 1 = 10. Write down 1.
The result is 10111, which is equivalent to 27 in decimal.
In computer hardware, binary addition is typically implemented using logic gates, such as XOR, AND, and OR gates, to perform the bitwise addition operation on each pair of corresponding bits. Carry bits are generated and propagated to higher-order bits as needed.
Binary addition is a fundamental operation that forms the basis for many other arithmetic operations in computers, including subtraction, multiplication, and division.
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