In a signed binary, the first bit (the leftmost) is reserved for the sign,
1 = negative, 0 = positive. This bit does not count when calculating the absolute value.
2. Construct the unsigned binary number.
Exclude the first bit (the leftmost), that is reserved for the sign:
0011 0000 0001 0000 = 011 0000 0001 0000
3. Map the unsigned binary number's digits versus the corresponding powers of 2 that their place value represent:
214
0 213
1 212
1 211
0 210
0 29
0 28
0 27
0 26
0 25
0 24
1 23
0 22
0 21
0 20
0
The number 0011 0000 0001 0000(2) converted from a signed binary (base two) and written as an integer in decimal system (base ten):
0011 0000 0001 0000(2) = 12 304(10)
Spaces were used to group digits: for binary, by 4, for decimal, by 3.