Question

The sign magnitude representation of -1 is __________

(a) 0001

(b) 1110

(c) 1000

(d) 1001

The question was asked during an interview.

My query is from The Arithmetic & Logic Unit in division Basic Computer Organisation of Computer Fundamentals

Answer 1

Correct option is (d) 1001

To explain I would say: The first leftmost bit i.e. the most significant bit in the sign magnitude represents if the number is positive or negative.  If the MSB is 1, the number is negative else if it is 0, the number is positive. Here, +1=0001 and for -1=1001.