OT: computer arithmetic question on integer division

[Andrea Giuliano]

I hope I understand your question right! Pardon me if I'm completely out 
of target.

The only way I know to do divisions is repeating a subtraction until you 
get a null remainder. This is how mathematicians define integer 
division, if I'm not too much in error:

"given integer A and B, there is a unique pair of integer Q and R such 
that 0<=R<B and A=B*Q+R"

So you see that you only can get Q and R subtracting B from A until you 
get a non null remainder. This should work for positive or negative 
numbers, but it's easier to understand for positive numbers.

Mmhhh, yes, it's not very clear, sorry.

Globe Trotter wrote:
> HI,
> 
> Does anyone know how the computer *actually* does integer
> division? I understand that with powers of 2, it just does bit
> shifting, but what about other powers, do you know?
> 
> (for example, 5/2 = 101/10 so shift the 101 by 1 and get 10, but how
> does 5/3 work, lets say?)
> 
> Thanks and best wishes!
> 
> 
> 
> 		
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-- 
Andrea Giuliano, Ph. D.
ICCU - Istituto Centrale per il Catalogo Unico
Viale Castro Pretorio 105, Rome - ITALY
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