Carry

Categories: Elementary arithmetic | Computer arithmetic

For the basketball violation, see carrying.

In elementary arithmetic a carry is a digit that is transferred from one column of digits to another column of more significant digits during a calculation algorithm. For example, in the following pencil-and-paper addition 

  ¹
  27
+ 59
----
  86

the digit 1 is the carry.

When speaking of a digital circuit like an adder, the word carry is used in a similar sense. In most computers, the carry from the most significant bit of an arithmetic operation (or bit shifted out from a shift operation) is placed in a special carry bit which can be used as a carry-in for multiple precision arithmetic or tested and used to control execution of a computer program.

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