Question

A computer has a word length of 8 bits (including sign). if 2’s complement is used to represent negative numbers, what range of integers can be stored in the computer? if 1’s complement is used? (express your answers in decimal.)

Answer 1

Two's-complement notation can represent all integers from - 2^(N-1) to 2^(N-1) - 1, where N is the word length of the computer. So, in your example, the computer could store all integers from -128 to 127 inclusive. 

One's-complement notation can represent all integers from - 2^(N-1) - 1 to 2^(N-1) - 1, where N is the word length of the computer. So, in your example, the computer could store all integers from -127 to 127 inclusive