2-byte signed Integer (n)~ An automation integer data type that can be either positive or negative. The most significant bit is the sign bit which is 1 for negative values and 0 for positive values. The storage size of the integer is 2 bytes. A 2-byte sig

A 2-byte signed integer (n) is a data type used in programming and computer systems to represent integer values, both positive and negative, within a specific range. Let's break down each part of the explanation:

1. 2-Byte Storage Size:

• A byte is a unit of digital information that consists of 8 bits.
• A 2-byte signed integer uses 16 bits in total (since 1 byte = 8 bits, and 2 bytes = 16 bits). This means it can hold a larger range of values compared to smaller data types like a 1-byte integer, which would only be able to store smaller numbers.

2. Signed Integer:

• A signed integer means the number can be either positive or negative.
• The first bit (the most significant bit) is used to determine the sign of the number:
  • If the most significant bit is 0, the integer is positive or zero.
  • If the most significant bit is 1, the integer is negative.
• This allows for a balance between positive and negative numbers in the available range of values.

3. Range of a 2-Byte Signed Integer:

• The range of a 2-byte signed integer is from -32,768 to 32,767.
  • The negative side goes from -32,768 (the smallest value) to -1.
  • The positive side goes from 0 to 32,767 (the largest value).
  This range is calculated based on the number of bits used to store the integer. For a signed integer with 16 bits, half of the total range is used for negative values, and the other half is used for positive values.

4. How the Sign is Represented:

• The sign of the number is stored in the most significant bit (MSB), which is the leftmost bit in the 16-bit binary representation:
  • 0 in the MSB means the number is positive.
  • 1 in the MSB means the number is negative.
• For example, the binary number 0000000000001010 represents +10 (since the MSB is 0), while 1111111111111010 represents -6 (since the MSB is 1).

5. Why It Is Used:

• A 2-byte signed integer is commonly used in computer programming, databases, and systems where it is necessary to store integer values that can be both positive and negative, while optimizing memory usage (since 2 bytes is relatively small compared to other integer types like 4-byte integers).
• It's often used in low-level programming, embedded systems, and scenarios where the data range of -32,768 to 32,767 is sufficient.

Example of 2-Byte Signed Integer Representation:

• +5: In binary, the value would be 0000000000000101 (the most significant bit is 0 for positive values).
• -5: In binary, the value would be 1111111111111011 (the most significant bit is 1 for negative values).
• The binary representation can be interpreted based on the sign and magnitude, and systems that handle signed integers will interpret the binary sequence accordingly.

Conclusion:

A 2-byte signed integer is a type of integer that occupies 2 bytes (16 bits) in memory and can represent both positive and negative numbers. The most significant bit determines whether the integer is positive or negative, and it has a range from -32,768 to 32,767. This data type is widely used in computer systems and programming for handling a wide range of numeric values while optimizing memory usage.

The above information is provided as general reference material and should not be taken as specific advice. For accurate analysis and professional guidance tailored to your specific situation, please consult an expert in the relevant field.