1. What is Bitwise Left Shift?

The bitwise left shift operation moves all bits in a number to the left by a specified number of positions. Each shift to the left effectively multiplies the number by 2.

2. How Does Left Shift Work?

The left shift operation follows this formula:

Where:

• \( \text{num} \) — The original integer number
• \( \text{bits} \) — Number of positions to shift left

Example: Shifting 5 (binary 101) left by 2 positions:

• Original: 101 (5 in decimal)
• Shifted: 10100 (20 in decimal)
• Calculation: 5 × 2² = 5 × 4 = 20

3. Practical Applications

Details: Left shifts are commonly used in low-level programming for fast multiplication by powers of 2, creating bit masks, and various bit manipulation tasks.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter any integer number and a non-negative shift amount. The calculator will show the result in both decimal and binary forms with a detailed solution.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What happens to bits shifted past the leftmost position?
A: They are discarded. In most programming languages, the result is limited by the size of the data type.

Q2: Is left shift the same as multiplication by 2?
A: For positive numbers within range, yes. But overflow behavior may differ between arithmetic multiplication and bit shifting.

Q3: Can I shift by a negative amount?
A: No, this calculator only accepts non-negative shift amounts. Negative shifts would be right shifts.

Q4: What's the difference between logical and arithmetic left shift?
A: For left shifts, they are identical. The distinction only matters for right shifts.

Q5: How many bits can I shift by?
A: This calculator accepts any non-negative integer, but practical limits depend on the size of the integer type in actual implementations.