Thread: plz explain

  1. #1
    I'll take you down! polonyman's Avatar
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    Sep 2004
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    plz explain

    can sum1 explain exactly how this program calculates the number of bits required to store a number(i got it off a tutorial and its aint explainin)
    Code:
    #include <iostream>
    using namespace std;
    
    int main()
    {
        int bitsRequired = 1; 
        int largest = 1; 
        int powerOf2 = 2;
        int number;
    
        cout << "Enter a positive integer: ";
        cin >> number;
    
        while (number > largest)
        {
            bitsRequired += 1;
            powerOf2 = powerOf2 * 2;
            largest = powerOf2 - 1;
        }
    
        cout << "To store " << number << " requires ";
        cout << bitsRequired << " bits" << endl;
        
        cin.ignore();
        cin.get();
    
        return 0;
    }
    thankz in advance

  2. #2
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    Well all powers of 2 in binary just have ONE bit set - eg 00100000

    A power of 2 minus 1 clears that bit, and sets all the bits to the right to 1, so
    00100000 would be 00011111

    The loop stops when a largest value is greater than the number you want to represent
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

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