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Binary Addition PDF

This document explains how computers perform binary addition. It begins by stating the key things readers should know: how computers add two binary values together and what a carry is. It then provides background on binary and denary numbering systems. The main part of the document demonstrates how to perform binary addition using carries, similarly to decimal addition, and discusses the carry flag for carries beyond 8 bits. It provides examples for readers to practice binary addition.

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Sriharshitha Deepala
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53 views

Binary Addition PDF

This document explains how computers perform binary addition. It begins by stating the key things readers should know: how computers add two binary values together and what a carry is. It then provides background on binary and denary numbering systems. The main part of the document demonstrates how to perform binary addition using carries, similarly to decimal addition, and discusses the carry flag for carries beyond 8 bits. It provides examples for readers to practice binary addition.

Uploaded by

Sriharshitha Deepala
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Binary

Addition

By the end of this worksheet you should:

• know how a computer adds two binary
values together
• be able to define what is meant by a carry


Computers can’t do much; but they do it incredibly
quickly.

One things computers can do is add.

Yet computers use binary, so we need to know how
computers add two binary numbers together.



BINARY: A numbering system used by computers and
digital circuits.
Uses 2 values; 0 or 1.

DENARY: A numbering system used by humans around
the world.
Uses 10 values: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9.



Why? Why do we need to know how to add two binary
numbers together?

Well, it’s not to check that you can add two 1s together;
we’re sure you can do that.

It’s because knowing how your computer works is key to
understanding programming and how computers do the
things they do.

Now, it is important to remember the following:

0 + 0 = 0
0 + 1 = 1
1 + 0 = 1
1 + 1 = 2
1 + 1 + 1 = 3

Page 1 of 4
Binary Addition

Again, this is obvious but we also know that computers


only use binary (zeros and ones), so there is no 2 or 3.

Instead, we need to use the binary equivalent values for 2
and 3, which are:

0 00
1 01
2 10
3 11

And then we need to remember the old carry we do in
our own mathematics.

Carry?

Consider adding these two denary values together:

2 5 1
1 7 5
4 2 6
1


Look at the small 1 at the bottom of the last column; that
is a carry. This is there because when we add 5 and 7
together we get a value bigger than 9; so, we need to
carry the tens part of the answer into the next column.



CARRY: to transfer to the next column.
In maths, if the result of a calculation exceeds
the maximum value for that column, the
additional amount is ‘carried over’ to the next,
more significant, column.



We do the same in binary:

0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1
0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1
1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0
1 1 1 1

Page 2 of 4
Binary Addition

This takes a little getting used to but basically, 1 + 1 = 2,


which is 10 in binary. We place the 0 in the answer area
and carry the 1 into the next column.

If we add 1 + 1 + 1 (with the last 1 being a carry), then we
end up with 11, so 1 goes into the answer area and we
carry the 1 into the next column.

What if the carry continues beyond our 8 columns?

Well, the computer remembers this, putting in to a
special area called the Carry Flag.



CARRY FLAG: A special register bit in the processor that
is set to 1 if any addition results in a carry
beyond the 8th bit.



What happens if we want to add 4 ones?

We never will.

Computers only ever add two binary numbers together,
so the maximum value that can ever be achieved is 3;
never 4.



It’s always worth checking your answers by converting
everything to denary first.

But remember, the examiner wants to see the carries;
they want to see you know
how a computer adds binary numbers together.

Page 3 of 4
Binary Addition

Try these…

a)
0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1
0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0


b)
0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1


c)
1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1



d)
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1



e)
0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1
0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0



f)
1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1
0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1

Page 4 of 4

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