Binary Shift using Python

Did You Know?

Everything that is stored on a computer is stored as binary code. Binary code is made of bits (0 or 1). We often use Bytes to store data. A Byte is made of eight bits and can be used to store any whole number between 0 to 255. Check it yourself, click on the binary digits to create your own binary number:

128	64	32	16	8	4	2	1
1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1

128 + 64 + 32 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 255

Binary Left Shift

A binary left shift is used to multiply a binary number by two. It consists of shifting all the binary digits to the left by 1 digit and adding an extra digit at the end with a value of 0.

Binary Right Shift

A binary right shift is used to divide a binary number by two. It consists of shifting all the binary digits to the right by 1 digit and adding an extra digit at the beginning (to the left) with a value of 0.

Multiple-digit Left and Right Shifts

A two-digit left shift consists of two consecutive left shifts on a binary number and is the equivalent of timing this number by 2²=4.

A three-digit left shift consists of three consecutive left shifts on a binary number and is the equivalent of timing this number by 2³=8. (and so on…)

A two-digit right shift consists of two consecutive right shifts on a binary number and is the equivalent of dividing this number by 2²=4.

A three-digit right shift consists of three consecutive right shifts on a binary number and is the equivalent of dividing this number by 2³=8. (and so on…)

Python Challenge

The purpose of this challenge is to write a Python script to perform a binary shift. Our Python program will:

• Ask the user to enter an 8-bit binary number,
• Ask the user whether they would like to perform a left shift or a right shift,
• Ask the user whether the number of digits they want to shift,
• Output the resulting 8-bit binary number.

Test Plan

Test #	Input Values			Expected Output	Actual Output
	Binary Number	Left/Right Shift?	Number of digits
#1	00111100	Left	1	01111000
#2	00111100	Right	1	00011110
#3	00111100	Left	2	111110000
#4	00111100	Right	2	00001111
#5	00001111	Left	3	01111000
#6	00001111	Right	3	0000001

Python Code