Why does (unsigned int = -1) show the largest value that it can store?

Asked May 22 '15 at 09:53

Active May 22 '15 at 09:53

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I was reading a C++ text and while I was solving some questions, I came across this question :-

An easy way to know the largest unsigned int on a computer with two's complement is :

unsigned int largeui = -1;

Test if it does and explain why?

I tried it out, and the output was :

4294967295

So, finally my question. Why is the value that and why does :

unsigned int largeui = -1;

work? Please clarify why -1 ?

asked May 22 '15 at 09:53

Ankit Panda

6

Read upon two's complement numbers and it will be obvious – Sami Kuhmonen May 22 '15 at 09:54
That is the behaviour specified in the C++ standard. – juanchopanza May 22 '15 at 09:57
Thanks! I got it. I do apologize for a duplicate question.(Very new to C++, coding.) – Ankit Panda May 22 '15 at 10:05
@SamiKuhmonen: It's got nothing to do with two's compliment. The language is specified to use modular arithmetic for the conversion, regardless of how the negative value is represented. – Mike Seymour May 22 '15 at 10:11

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