[Tutor] << operator ? [left bitwise shifting / Jon Bentley's Programming Pearls]

[Danny Yoo]

> > And this is what we mean when we say that computers count in base-two
> > arithmetic --- they represent numbers by using on/off switches --- "bits".
> > On most systems that Python runs on, each integer is made up of 32 bits.
>
> Hmm .. is this the difference between the computers used popularly
> today, and the new IA-64 architecture ? If so, does a "2" on a 64-bit
> machine have 32 more zeroes in front of it, than a "2" on a 32-bit
> machine ?

Yes, I believe so.  On a 64 bit machine, integers should be represented in
64 bits.


> Ok. I think I've got a hang of what these operators do. Now to go find a
> binary file to play with in "pure" python .... :-)

If you ever get the chance, youy might be interested in the book
"Programming Pearls", by Jon Bentley.  If you browse through Column 1,
you'll see a great example of bits in action.  *grin*

    http://www.cs.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/pearls/cto.html


Best of wishes to you!