# Arithmetic right shift: a paradox?

So I was asked to perform the simple task of doing a 3-bit arithmetic shift of the number 1101 (-3 in 2's complement notation). Now this is easy and it goes as 1101 -> 1110 -> 1111 -> 1111. So the final result should be 1111 (-1 in 2's complement notation).

However I also learned that shifting a number p=3 positions to the right is the same as dividing that number by 2^p=8. Therefore shouldn't my result be 0, since -3 dividing by 8 is 0 (with remainder -3). What am I missing in this apparent paradox?

• – Andrew Morton Nov 24 '20 at 16:26
• As a hint, what happens when you use this process to divide -1 by 2? – The Photon Nov 24 '20 at 16:27
• Arithmetic shift right is not the same as logical shift right – Marko Buršič Nov 24 '20 at 16:31
• Interesting question 🙂. Division by 2 by shifting right is more like divide by 2 followed by 'floor' operation. ie., For eg: -0.5 gets rounded to -1, while +0.5 gets rounded to 0. – Mitu Raj Nov 27 '20 at 12:07

Right shifting of a negative two's complement number is indeed equivalent to division as you stated, but always rounding down (towards minus infinity). So no paradox here - division of -1 by 2 gives -0.5 which is rounded down to the same -1.