### A good answer might be:

negative

# The Sign of the Four Bits

Be Certain of this: it is by happy coincidence that the high order bit of a two's comp. integer is 0 for positive and 1 for negative. But, to create the two's comp. repn of the negative of a number you must "reflect, add one". Changing the sign bit by itself will not work.

To convert N bits of two's complement representation into decimal representation:

1. If the integer is negative, complement it to get a positive integer.
2. Convert (positive) integer to decimal (as usual).
3. If the integer was originally negative, put "-" in front of the decimal.

The number repd by 1001 is negative (since the "sign bit" is one), so complement:

>      1001 →  0110 + 1 →  0111

Convert the result to decimal: 0111 = 710. Add a negative sign: -710. So (in 4-bit two's comp. repn) 1001 represents -710.

### QUESTION 22:

What is the decimal repn of this 8-bit two's complement integer: 1001 1111