1. What is Binary Subtraction?

Binary subtraction is the operation of subtracting one binary number from another. It follows similar rules to decimal subtraction but with a base of 2 instead of 10. The borrow method is commonly used when the subtrahend is larger than the minuend in a given bit position.

2. How Does Binary Subtraction Work?

Binary subtraction follows these basic rules:

When subtracting a larger digit from a smaller one, you borrow from the next higher bit position.

3. The Borrow Method

Details: The borrow method works similarly to decimal subtraction. When you need to subtract 1 from 0, you borrow 1 from the next higher bit position, which becomes 2 in the current position (since binary is base 2).

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter two binary numbers (containing only 0s and 1s). The calculator will perform the subtraction and show the result in binary format.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What happens if the subtrahend is larger than the minuend?
A: The calculator will still work, but the result will be negative (represented in binary using two's complement).

Q2: How is borrowing different in binary vs decimal?
A: In binary, you borrow 2 (the base) rather than 10 as in decimal subtraction.

Q3: What's the maximum length of binary numbers I can subtract?
A: The calculator can handle binary numbers up to 32 bits in length.

Q4: Can I subtract binary numbers of different lengths?
A: Yes, the calculator automatically handles numbers of different lengths.

Q5: How is negative result represented?
A: Negative results are shown in standard binary form (not two's complement in this basic calculator).