02 Arithmetic Operations
Performing Arithmetic Operationsg
Introduction
Arithmetic operations in logic design refer to hardware-based computations implemented using digital logic
circuits. Unlike software arithmetic (performed by programs), logic design arithmetic is realized using logic
gates, combinational circuits, and sequential circuits.
A. Addition of Number System
Addition of number systems is the process of adding numbers written in different numeral systems
such as decimal, binary, octal, and hexadecimal. Although the symbols and bases differ, the basic
idea of addition is the same: add digits from right to left and carry over when the sum reaches the
base of the number system.
1. Decimal Number System(Base 10)
Digits used: 0–9
Carry rule: Carry when the sum is 10 or more
Example
458
+ 267
-----
725
Explanation:
• 8 + 7 = 15 → write 5, carry 1
• 5 + 6 + 1 = 12 → write 2, carry 1
• 4+2+1=7
2. Binary Number System (Base 2)
Digits used: 0, 1
Carry rule: Carry when the sum is 2
Binary Addition Rules
• 0+0=0
• 0+1=1
• 1+0=1
• 1 + 1 = 10 (sum = 0, carry = 1)
Example
1011 (11)
+ 0110 (6)
------
10001 (17)
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Explanation:
• 1+0=1
• 1 + 1 = 0, carry 1
• 0 + 1 + 1 = 0, carry 1
• 1 + 0 + 1 = 0, carry 1
3. Octal Number System (Base 8)
Digits used: 0–7
Carry rule: Carry when the sum is 8 or more
Example
457₈
+ 326₈
------
1005₈
Explanation:
• 7 + 6 = 13₁₀ → 5₈, carry 1
• 5 + 2 + 1 = 8₁₀ → 0₈, carry 1
• 4 + 3 + 1 = 8₁₀ → 0₈, carry 1
4. Hexadecimal Number System (Base 16)
Digits used: 0–9, A–F
(A = 10, B = 11, …, F = 15)
Carry rule: Carry when the sum is 16 or more
Example:
3A7₁₆
+ 2F9₁₆
------
6A0₁₆
Explanation:
• 7 + 9 = 16₁₀ → 0, carry 1
• A (10) + F (15) + 1 = 26₁₀ → A, carry 1
• 3+2+1=6
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B. Subtraction of Number System
Subtraction in any number system follows the same basic idea, but the borrow rule depends on the
base of the number system.
General Rules for Subtraction
• Subtract from right to left.
• If the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit, a borrow is required.
• Borrowing means taking 1 from the next higher place value.
• The borrowed value equals the base of the number system.
1. Decimal Subtraction (Base 10)
Digits used: 0–9
Borrowing rule:
• When the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit, borrow 1 from the next left digit.
• Borrowing adds 10 to the current digit.
Example
752
− 389
------
363
Explanation
• 2 − 9 → borrow 1 → 12 − 9 = 3
• 4 − 8 → borrow 1 → 14 − 8 = 6
• 6−3=3
2. Binary Subtraction (Base 2)
Digits used: 0, 1
Borrowing rule:
• Binary subtraction follows base-2 borrowing rules.
• If the top bit is smaller than the bottom bit, borrow 1 from the next higher bit.
Borrowing 1 in binary converts 0 into 10₂.
Example
1010₂
− 0111₂
--------
0011₂
Explanation
• 0 − 1 → borrow → 10₂ − 1 = 1
• 0 − 1 → borrow → 10₂ − 1 = 1
• 0 − 1 → borrow → 10₂ − 1 = 1
• 0−0=0
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Methods of Binary Subtraction
Subtraction of Binary Numbers using 1’s Complement, and 2’s Complement
Both 1’s complement and 2’s complement are methods used to represent negative binary
numbers and to perform binary subtraction using addition. However, they differ in procedure,
handling of carry, and practical use.
Subtraction Method
• 1’s Complement Subtraction
o Take 1’s complement of subtrahend by inverting 0 to 1, 1 to 0
o Convert subtraction into addition then a dd to minuend
o If carry occurs → add it back (end-around carry)
o If no carry → complement result and attach negative sign
Example (1)
Subtract: 10102 − 00112
Step 1: Get 1’s complement of 0011 = 1100
Step 2: Converts subtraction into addition then add to minuend
1010 (From Minuend)
+ 1100 (From Subtrahend)
------
1 0110 (Sum with carry)
Step 3: Carry occurs add carry back:
0110 (Sum)
+ 1 (From Carry)
------
0111 (Final Answer)
Step 4: Take the result as final answer
0111 (Final Answer)
Example (2):
Subtract: 0101₂ - 1000₂
Step 1: Get 1’s complement of 1000 = 0111
Step 2: Convert subtraction into addition then add to minuend
0101
+ 0111
------
1100
Step 3: No carry → take 1’s complement
1’s comp of 1100 = 0011
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Step 4: Complement result and attach negative sign
−(0011₂) (Final Answer)
• 2’s Complement Subtraction
o Take 2’s complement of subtrahend
▪ Take 1’s complement
▪ Add 1
o Convert subtraction into addition
o Add to minuend
o Ignore final carry
o Get the final result
Example (1)
Subtract 1010₂ − 0011₂
Step 1: Get 1’s complement of 0011 = 1100
Step 2: Add 1
1100 (1’s complement)
+ 1
------
1101
Step 3: Convert subtraction into addition then add to minuend
1010
+ 1101
------
1 0111
Step 4: Ignore the final carry and get the final result
0111₂ (Final Answer)
3. Subtraction of Octal Number System (Base-8)
The octal number system uses base 8, so subtraction follows rules similar to decimal
subtraction but borrowing is done in 8, not in 10.
• Digits used: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
• Borrowing rule:
o When the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit, borrow 1 from the next higher place
value, which adds 8 to the current digit.
General Rule for Octal Subtraction
• Write the numbers vertically
• Start subtracting from the rightmost digit
• If the top digit < bottom digit:
o Borrow 1 from the next left digit
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o Add 8 to the current digit
• Continue until all digits are subtracted
• Write the final result in octal
Example (1):
531₈
− 211₈
------
320₈
Explanation:
o Units: 1 − 1 = 0
o Eights: 3 − 1 = 2
o Sixty-fours: 5 − 2 = 3
Example (2):
402₈
− 157₈
------
225₈
Explanation:
Step 1: Units place
• 2 − 7 → not possible
• Borrow 1 from 0 → 2 becomes 8₈ + 2 = 10₈
• 10₈ − 7 = 3
Step 2: Eights place
• The 0 became −1 due to borrowing
• Borrow from 4 → 0 becomes 7, How and Why?
Borrowing 1 adds 8,
So: −1 + 8 = 7
Therefore;
7−5=2
Step 3: Sixty-fours place
• 3−1=2
Cross Checking Answer
Step 1: Convert to Decimal
Convert 402₈ → decimal
4 × 82 + 0 × 81 + 2 × 80 = 256 + 0 + 2 = 25810
Convert 157₈ → decimal
1 × 82 + 5 × 81 + 7 × 80 = 64 + 40 + 7 = 11110
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Step 2: Subtract in Decimal
258 − 111 = 14710
Step 3: Convert Decimal Result Back to Octal
Repeated division by 8:
Division Quotient Remainder
147 ÷ 8 18 3
18 ÷ 8 2 2
2÷8 0 2
Read remainders bottom to top:
14710 = 2238
4. Subtraction of the Hexadecimal Number System (Base-16)
The hexadecimal number system uses base 16, so subtraction is similar to decimal
subtraction—but borrowing is done in 16, not 10.
Digits used: 0–9, A–F
A = 10, B = 11, C = 12, D = 13, E = 14, F = 15
Borrowing rule:
When the top digit is smaller than the bottom digit, borrow 1 from the next left digit, which
adds 16 to the current digit.
General Rule for Hexadecimal Subtraction
• Write the numbers vertically
• Subtract from right to left
• If top digit < bottom digit:
o Borrow 1
o Add 16 to the current digit
• Continue until all digits are subtracted
• Express the final result in hexadecimal
Example (1):
9C₁₆
− 2A₁₆
-----
72₁₆
Example (2):
A03₁₆
− 2F9₁₆
------
70A₁₆
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C. Multiplication of Number Systems
Multiplication works the same logical way across number systems—the only thing that changes is
the base and the carry rule. Let’s walk through the most common one’s step by step, from simple to
technical.
1. Multiplication in Decimal Number System (Base 10)
Digits used: 0–9
Carry rule: Carry when the result is 10 or more
Example:
2310
×410
---------
21
Explanation:
• 4 × 3 = 12→ write 2, carry 1
• 4 × 2 = 8, plus carry 1 → 9
2. Multiplication in Binary Number System (Base 2)
Digits used: 0, 1
Carry rule: Carry when the result is 2 or more
Example
1012 × 112
Explanation
101
× 11
-----
101 ← multiply by LSB (1)
+ 101 ← multiply by next bit (1), shift left
-----
11112 ← Final Answer
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3. Octal Multiplication (Base 8)
Digits used: 0–7
Carry rule: Carry when the result is 8 or more
General Octal Formula in Multiplication
where;
“mod 8” means - What is left over after dividing or grouping by 8
Or,
Example (1):
78
x 68
----
528 , How?
Explanation:
• 7 x 6 = 42
• carry = (42 / 8) = 5
• remainder = 42 – ( 8 x 5 ) = 42 – 40 = 2
Write 2,
Carry 5, so;
Final answer is 528
Example (2):
26
x 23
----------
Solution:
• Multiply 6 x 3 = 18
• So on and so forth
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4. Hexadecimal Multiplication (Base-16)
• Digits: 0–9, A–F
(A=10, B=11, C=12, D=13, E=14, F=15)
• Carry rule: Carry when the result is 16 or more
• The same formula applies as octal, but they differ in base number
Example (1):
1A16 × 416 = 6816
Explanation:
• Multiply first digit
1A₁₆
× 4₁₆
---------
• Multiply first digit
A × 4 = 10 × 4 = 40
Regroup:
40 = (2 × 16 ) + 8
o Write 8
o Carry 2
• Multiply second digit
1×4=4
Add carry:
4+2=6
Regroup:
6 = ( 0 × 16 ) + 6
o Write 6
o No carry
• Get the final answer
1A₁₆
× 4₁₆
---------
68₁₆
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D. Division of Number Systems
Division works by repeated subtraction of the divisor, respecting the base.
At every step:
• Quotient digit must be less than the base
• Remainder must be less than the divisor
General formula
Where;
or
1. Decimal Division ( Base-10)
8410 ÷ 410 = 2110
2. Binary Division ( Base-2)
10102÷102 = 1012
3. Octal Division ( Base-8 )
Example (1):
528 ÷ 68 = 648 ?
Explanation:
• Divide 56 by 6, then get the quotient by respecting the
rule of octal. A carry is produced if the product is 8 or
more.
• Multiply 6 x 7 in decimal to get 42, then convert it back
to octal by dividing the product by 8 to get the octal
value.
• Get the quotient as your final answer, include
remainder if there is.
• Therefore, the correct answer is 78 not 648.
Example(2):
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1268 ÷ 168 = ?8
Explanation:
Refer to the board demonstration done during our
class sessions.
4. Hexadecimal Division ( Base 16)
Example (1):
6816÷416 = 1A16
Explanation:
Refer to the board demonstration done during our
class sessions.
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