Exploring the Maximum Values Representable in 64-Bit Systems: Beyond Simple Integer Limits
By
tromp
Toasted golden, schmeared with insight. Top of the rack.
Summary
This technical article explores the concept of the largest number representable in 64 bits, challenging the common assumption that it's 2^64-1 (18446744073709551615). The author examines various data types and representations including unsigned integers, floating-point numbers, and different encoding schemes, discussing how different interpretations and data types can yield different maximum values. The article provides technical insights into computer architecture, data representation, and programming concepts related to 64-bit systems.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledMost people believe 2^64-1 = 18446744073709551615, or 0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF in hexadecimal, to be the largest number representable in 64 bits.
That is indeed the maximum possible value of 64 bit unsigned integers, available as data type uint64_t in C or u64 in Rust.
This post is a rewrite of my earlier blog post from Nov 2023 with many new insights and updates.
The article examines various data types and representations including unsigned integers, floating-point numbers, and different encoding schemes.
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