Question

Which of the statements are true?

A) Subtracting two positive (or two negative) numbers can result in overflow.
B) Summing a positive and a negative number can result in overflow.
C) Subtracting a positive from a negative number can result in overflow.
D) Summing two positive or two negative numbers can result in overflow.

Answer 1

Subtracting two positive (or two negative) numbers can result in overflow, but summing a positive and a negative number, summing two positive or two negative numbers, and subtracting a positive from a negative number cannot result in overflow.

Step-by-step explanation:

Statement A) Subtracting two positive (or two negative) numbers can result in overflow is true. When subtracting two positive (or two negative) numbers, if the result is a number greater than the maximum value that can be represented by the number system being used, overflow occurs.

Statement B) Summing a positive and a negative number can result in overflow is false. The sum of a positive and a negative number can never result in overflow because the combined value will always be between the values of the two numbers being added.

Statement C) Subtracting a positive from a negative number can result in overflow is false. The result of subtracting a positive number from a negative number will always be between the values of the two numbers being subtracted, so overflow cannot occur.

Statement D) Summing two positive or two negative numbers can result in overflow is false. The sum of two positive or two negative numbers can never result in overflow because the combined value will always be between the values of the two numbers being added.