AoCO 2025: Division
5 days ago
- #programming
- #compiler-optimizations
- #integer-arithmetic
- Computers handle integer arithmetic with varying speeds: addition is fastest, multiplication slower, and division the slowest.
- Compilers optimize division by powers of two using right shifts, but must handle rounding differences for signed integers.
- Using unsigned integers can simplify compiler optimizations by avoiding extra instructions for rounding negative numbers.
- Compiler behavior is constrained by language specifications, sometimes leading to unexpected but correct optimizations.
- Tools like Compiler Explorer help developers understand and align their intentions with compiler optimizations.