arithmeticshifting
nounUK /ˌærɪθˈmɛtɪkˌʃɪftɪŋ/
US /ˌærɪθˈmɛtɪkˌʃɪftɪŋ/
Moving numbers to the left or right to make them bigger or smaller.
The computer used arithmetic shifting to double the number quickly.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A way to multiply or divide a binary number by powers of two by moving its bits.
Arithmetic shifting left by one bit multiplies the value by two.
3. A low-level operation in computer hardware that moves bits while keeping the number's sign.
The processor performed an arithmetic shift to preserve the negative sign.
4. The process of adjusting a number's position in a fixed-width field during calculation.
Arithmetic shifting helped align the operands before addition.