Arithmetic Shifting Considered Harmful,

Abstract

For more than a decade there has been great confusion over the semantics of the standard 'arithmetic right shift' instruction. This confusion particularly afflicts authors of computer reference handbooks and of optimizing compilers. The fact that shifting is not always equivalent to division has been rediscovered over and over again over the years, but has never been publicized. This paper quotes a large number of sources to prove the widespread extent of this confusion, and then proceeds to a short discussion of the problem itself and what to do about it. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1976
Accession Number
ADA031883

Entities

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  • Guy L. Steele Jr.

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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  • Energy and Power Technologies

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  • Arithmetic
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Binary Arithmetic
  • Compilers
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
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  • Digital Computers
  • Handbooks
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  • Information Systems
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  • Educational Psychology
  • Systems Analysis and Design