# Boolean questions Create the following variables. ``` a = Bits("11110000") b = Bits("10101010") ``` For each of the following bytes, give an equivalent expression which uses only `a`, `b`, and bit operators. The answers to the first two questions are given. 1. 01010101 ~b 2. 00000101 ~a & ~b 3. 00000001 4. 10000000 5. 01010000 6. 00001010 7. 01010000 8. 10101011 ## Integer questions These questions are difficult! Try exploring ideas with `Bits` in Terminal, a paper and pencil, and a whiteboard. And definitely talk with others. 9. If `a` represents a positive integer, and `one = Bits(1, length=len(a))`, give an expression equivalent to `-a`, but which does not use negation. 10. It is extremely easy to double a binary number: just shift all the bits to the left. (`a << 1` is twice `a`.) Explain why this trick works. 11. Consider the following: ``` >>> hundred = Bits(100, 8) >>> hundred 01100100 >>> (hundred + hundred) 11001000 >>> (hundred + hundred).int -56 ``` Apparently 100 + 100 = -56. What's going on here? 12. What is the bit representation of negative zero? Explain your answer. 13. What's the largest integer that can be represented in a single byte? Explain your reasoning. 14. What's the smallest integer that can be represented in a single byte? Explain your reasoning. 15. What's the largest integer that can be represented in `n` bits? Explain your reasoning. ## Text questions 16. Look at the bits for a few different characters using the `utf8` encoding. You will notice they have different bit lengths: ``` >>> Bits('a', encoding='utf8') 01100001 >>> Bits('ñ', encoding='utf8') 1100001110110001 >>> Bits('♣', encoding='utf8') 111000101001100110100011 >>> Bits('😍', encoding='utf8') 11110000100111111001100010001101 ``` When it's time to decode a sequence of utf8-encoded bits, the decoder somehow needs to decide when it has read enough bits to decode a character, and when it needs to keep reading. For example, the decoder will produce 'a' after reading 8 bits but after reading the first 8 bits of 'ñ', the decoder realizes it needs to read 8 more bits. Make a hypothesis about how this could work.