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GATE CSE 2024 Session 1 Q13: Which 5-bit two's complement operation overflows

Question

Consider a system that uses 5 bits for representing signed integers in 2's complement format. In this system, two integers AA and BB are represented as A=01010A = 01010 and B=11010B = 11010. Which one of the following operations will result in either an arithmetic overflow or an arithmetic underflow?

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Answer: B (official GATE 2024 final answer key)

Concept used: 5-bit two's complement holds −16 to 15; a result outside that range overflows.

First step: Decode the values: A=10A = 10 and B=−6B = -6, then evaluate each option.

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Source: official GATE 2024 Session 1 CS question paper and final answer key, organised by IISc Bangalore. Question paper · Answer key

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