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Dividing binary numbers

The document explains the process of dividing binary numbers using long division, similar to decimal division. It provides a step-by-step example of dividing 1000101 by 1100, detailing how to handle remainders and radix points. The document also notes that some divisions may not result in exact values, leading to approximations.

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19 views3 pages

Dividing binary numbers

The document explains the process of dividing binary numbers using long division, similar to decimal division. It provides a step-by-step example of dividing 1000101 by 1100, detailing how to handle remainders and radix points. The document also notes that some divisions may not result in exact values, leading to approximations.

Uploaded by

rockerandrew
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Dividing Binary Numbers

Division of binary numbers is similar to long division in decimal, but the


values will go in either 1 or 0 times.

Example
1000101/1100 (this is 69/12 in decimal.)

First, we write it in "long division form":

1100 √1000101

Look at the first four bits of 1000101.

(i) Can 1100 go into 1000...?

No, so we move one digit to the right.

(ii) Can 1100 go into 10001...?

Yes, once. So we put a 1 in the quotient above the 1100,


subtract, and carry down the next bit. We now have:

1
1100 √1000101
1100
---------
101

Note that we had to do some borrowing to do the subtraction.

Next, we bring down the next digit and move one place to the right.
Can 1100 go into 1010?

No, so we record a 0 in the quotient and carry down the next bit, like
this:

10
1100 √1000101
1100
---------
10101

1
Moving over another place, can 1100 go into 10101? Yes, so we record a
1 in the quotient and subtract:

101
1100 √1000101
1100
---------
10101
1100
---------
1001

At this point, if we want an integer (whole number) answer in quotient


and remainder form, we'll write it as 101 r 1001. That's 5 remainder 9
in decimal.

We can also write that as 101 1001/1100 (5 9/12 decimal) by putting the
remainder over the divisor. That fraction can be reduced to 101 11/100 (5
3/4 decimal) by dividing the numerator and denominator by 3.

If we want a "radix" answer - the binary equivalent of 5.75 - we can


continue the long division process by adding a radix point (the binary
equivalent of a decimal point) and some trailing zeros on the dividend.
We'll put a radix point in the quotient directly above the divisors as well:

101.
1100 √1000101
1100
---------
10101
1100
---------
1001

Now we can continue the long division process. We carry down the next
digit (the first of our trailing zeros) and check: Can 1100 go into
10010?

Note that for the subtractions, we'll ignore the radix point. Again, the
answer is yes, so we record a 1 (this one is to the right
of the radix point in the quotient) and subtract:

2
101.1
1100 √1000101
1100
---------
10101
1100
---------
1001 0
110 0
---------
11 00

We'll carry down the next digit one more time and move over another
place. Can 1100 go into 1100?

Again, the answer is yes, so we record another 1 and subtract. Since the
result of this subtraction is zero, we're done and we have an exact
answer:

101.1
1100 √1000101
1100
---------
10101
1100
-----------
1001 0
110 0
-------------
11 00
11 00
-------------
0

Just as with decimal, some values won't divide evenly, and we'll get a
repeating fractional part. We can stop at any time, but realize that
we've only found an approximation, not an exact value.

One final note: If the divisor (the 1100 in this example) has a radix
point in it, move the radix points in BOTH the dividend and divisor to
the right an equal number of places sufficient to remove it from the
divisor. For example, to divide 11001.1 by 11.001, first move both
radix points right 3 places (you'll have to add zeros to the
dividend.) Then divide 11001100 by 11001.

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