GATE CSE 2026 Session 1 Q22: Overflow with 8-bit sign-magnitude operands

Digital Logic
1 mark
MSQ
No negative marking

Consider the 8-bit signed integers $X$ , $Y$ and $Z$ represented using the sign-magnitude form. The binary representations of $X$ and $Y$ are as follows:

$X$ : 10110100 $\qquad$ $Y$ : 01001100

Which of the following operations to compute $Z$ result(s) in an arithmetic overflow?

Try it: multiple select: one or more correct options

Select all correct options. No negative marking, no partial marks.

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Answer: B, C (official GATE 2026 final answer key)

Concept used: 8-bit sign-magnitude represents $-127$ to $+127$ .

First step: Decode $X = -52$ and $Y = +76$ , then compute each result and compare with $\pm 127$ .

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Source: official GATE 2026 Session 1 CS question paper and final answer key, organised by IIT Guwahati. Question paper · Answer key

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GATE CSE 2026 Session 1 Q22: Overflow with 8-bit sign-magnitude operands

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