1. What is the Shift Operator?

The left shift operator (<<) shifts the bits of the first operand left by the number of positions specified by the second operand. Each shift to the left doubles the number (equivalent to multiplying by 2).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator performs the left shift operation:

Where:

• \( num \) — The integer number to be shifted
• \( shift \) — The number of positions to shift left

Explanation: Each left shift multiplies the number by 2. For example, 5 << 2 equals 20 (5 × 2 × 2).

3. Importance of Shift Operations

Details: Bitwise operations are fundamental in low-level programming, cryptography, and optimizing certain mathematical operations. They are much faster than multiplication/division in most processors.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter any integer number and a positive integer for the shift amount. The calculator will show the result of the left shift operation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What happens when you shift beyond the bit width?
A: In most programming languages, the extra bits are simply discarded. The behavior is well-defined in most languages.

Q2: Is left shift the same as multiplication by 2?
A: For positive numbers, yes. But for negative numbers, it depends on the representation (two's complement).

Q3: What's the difference between arithmetic and logical shift?
A: Arithmetic shift preserves the sign bit, while logical shift doesn't. Left shift is typically logical in most languages.

Q4: Can I shift by a negative amount?
A: The calculator only accepts positive shift amounts. Some languages support negative shifts (right shift).

Q5: What's the maximum shift amount?
A: The calculator limits shifts to reasonable values, but in practice, shifting by more than the bit width (e.g., 32 or 64) may have undefined behavior.