Integer to Signed Binary: Number -2 147 483 501 Converted and Written as a Signed Binary. Base Ten Decimal System Conversion

Integer number -2 147 483 501(10) written as a signed binary number

1. Start with the positive version of the number:

|-2 147 483 501| = 2 147 483 501

2. Divide the number repeatedly by 2:

Keep track of each remainder.

We stop when we get a quotient that is equal to zero.


  • division = quotient + remainder;
  • 2 147 483 501 ÷ 2 = 1 073 741 750 + 1;
  • 1 073 741 750 ÷ 2 = 536 870 875 + 0;
  • 536 870 875 ÷ 2 = 268 435 437 + 1;
  • 268 435 437 ÷ 2 = 134 217 718 + 1;
  • 134 217 718 ÷ 2 = 67 108 859 + 0;
  • 67 108 859 ÷ 2 = 33 554 429 + 1;
  • 33 554 429 ÷ 2 = 16 777 214 + 1;
  • 16 777 214 ÷ 2 = 8 388 607 + 0;
  • 8 388 607 ÷ 2 = 4 194 303 + 1;
  • 4 194 303 ÷ 2 = 2 097 151 + 1;
  • 2 097 151 ÷ 2 = 1 048 575 + 1;
  • 1 048 575 ÷ 2 = 524 287 + 1;
  • 524 287 ÷ 2 = 262 143 + 1;
  • 262 143 ÷ 2 = 131 071 + 1;
  • 131 071 ÷ 2 = 65 535 + 1;
  • 65 535 ÷ 2 = 32 767 + 1;
  • 32 767 ÷ 2 = 16 383 + 1;
  • 16 383 ÷ 2 = 8 191 + 1;
  • 8 191 ÷ 2 = 4 095 + 1;
  • 4 095 ÷ 2 = 2 047 + 1;
  • 2 047 ÷ 2 = 1 023 + 1;
  • 1 023 ÷ 2 = 511 + 1;
  • 511 ÷ 2 = 255 + 1;
  • 255 ÷ 2 = 127 + 1;
  • 127 ÷ 2 = 63 + 1;
  • 63 ÷ 2 = 31 + 1;
  • 31 ÷ 2 = 15 + 1;
  • 15 ÷ 2 = 7 + 1;
  • 7 ÷ 2 = 3 + 1;
  • 3 ÷ 2 = 1 + 1;
  • 1 ÷ 2 = 0 + 1;

3. Construct the base 2 representation of the positive number:

Take all the remainders starting from the bottom of the list constructed above.


2 147 483 501(10) = 111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 0110 1101(2)


4. Determine the signed binary number bit length:

The base 2 number's actual length, in bits: 31.

A signed binary's bit length must be equal to a power of 2, as of:

21 = 2; 22 = 4; 23 = 8; 24 = 16; 25 = 32; 26 = 64; ...

The first bit (the leftmost) is reserved for the sign:

0 = positive integer number, 1 = negative integer number


The least number that is:

1) a power of 2

2) and is larger than the actual length, 31,

3) so that the first bit (leftmost) could be zero
(we deal with a positive number at this moment)

=== is: 32.


5. Get the positive binary computer representation on 32 bits (4 Bytes):

If needed, add extra 0s in front (to the left) of the base 2 number, up to the required length, 32:


2 147 483 501(10) = 0111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 0110 1101


6. Get the negative integer number representation:

To get the negative integer number representation on 32 bits (4 Bytes),

... change the first bit (the leftmost), from 0 to 1...


Number -2 147 483 501(10), a signed integer number (with sign),
converted from decimal system (from base 10)
and written as a signed binary (in base 2):

-2 147 483 501(10) = 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 0110 1101

Spaces were used to group digits: for binary, by 4, for decimal, by 3.

» More ops: Integer number -2 147 483 487 converted and written as a signed binary number

» New: All the Calculations Performed by Our Visitors: Integer numbers converted and written as signed binary numbers. Data organized on a Monthly Basis

How to convert signed integers from decimal system to binary code system

Follow the steps below to convert a signed base ten integer number to signed binary:

  • 1. In a signed binary, first bit (the leftmost) is reserved for sign: 0 = positive integer number, 1 = positive integer number. If the number to be converted is negative, start with its positive version.
  • 2. Divide repeatedly by 2 the positive integer number keeping track of each remainder. STOP when we get a quotient that is ZERO.
  • 3. Construct the base 2 representation of the positive number, by taking all the remainders starting from the bottom of the list constructed above. Thus, the last remainder of the divisions becomes the first symbol (the leftmost) of the base two number, while the first remainder becomes the last symbol (the rightmost).
  • 4. Binary numbers represented in computer language have a length of 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, ... bits (power of 2) - if needed, fill in extra '0' bits in front of the base 2 number (to the left), up to the right length; this way the first bit (the leftmost one) is always '0', as for a positive representation.
  • 5. To get the negative reprezentation of the number, simply switch the first bit (the leftmost one), from '0' to '1'.

Example: convert the negative number -63 from decimal system (base ten) to signed binary code system:

  • 1. Start with the positive version of the number: |-63| = 63;
  • 2. Divide repeatedly 63 by 2, keeping track of each remainder, until we get a quotient that is equal to zero:
    • division = quotient + remainder
    • 63 ÷ 2 = 31 + 1
    • 31 ÷ 2 = 15 + 1
    • 15 ÷ 2 = 7 + 1
    • 7 ÷ 2 = 3 + 1
    • 3 ÷ 2 = 1 + 1
    • 1 ÷ 2 = 0 + 1
  • 3. Construct the base 2 representation of the positive number, by taking all the remainders starting from the bottom of the list constructed above:
    63(10) = 11 1111(2)
  • 4. The actual length of base 2 representation number is 6, so the positive binary computer representation length of the signed binary will take in this case 8 bits (the least power of 2 higher than 6) - add extra '0's in front (to the left), up to the required length; this way the first bit (the leftmost one) is to be '0', as for a positive number:
    63(10) = 0011 1111(2)
  • 5. To get the negative integer number representation simply change the first bit (the leftmost), from '0' to '1':
    -63(10) = 1011 1111
  • Number -63(10), signed integer, converted from decimal system (base 10) to signed binary = 1011 1111