Negative Numbers
We have to have a way to represent negative numbers and 0.
- If the word length is n, then there are 2n bit-patterns possible - there cannot be an equal number of positive and negative numbers represented.
Suppose n=3, and consider the following:
- 000two = 0ten 100two = -4ten
- 001two = 1ten 101two = -3ten
- 010two = 2ten 110two = -2ten
- 011two = 3ten 111two = -1ten