A system which works better is where we evaluate negative numbers by
counting down from zero to the negative number. So -1 decimal would be
11111111 (check this by adding decimal 1 or binary 00000001 to it).
Looking at some numbers above and below zero using this system:
00000100 = 4
00000011 = 3
00000010 = 2
00000001 = 1
00000000 = 0
11111111 =-1
11111110 =-2
11111101 =-3
11111100 =-4
Now pairs of positive and negative numbers of the same integer do add up
to zero. Negative numbers represented this way are said to be in Two's
complement form.
|
