The application of binary arithmetic in the computing circuits of a high speed digital computer is discussed in detail. The discussion covers, with numerous examples, the use of complements to represent negative numbers, the corrections necessary in the multiplication process as a result of the use of complements, and additional modifications of the process to simplify mechanization. A special division method well-adapted to automatic computer use is described, and round-off procedures are noted briefly. The article is concluded with a discussion of the storage of negative numbers as absolute values with a sign rather than in complement form.
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R. F. Shaw (1950) studied this question.