Decimal to One's Complement Binary Converter Calculator

Let's convert the decimal number -3 to 8 bit one's complement binary.

First, let's not worry about the negative for now. Converting 3 to unsigned binary gives 11. For help converting decimal numbers to binary, check out our decimal to binary converter.

We have now found 3 in binary, but since we are working with 8-bit one's complement, we need to 'pad' this number (insert 0's into the front) until it adds up to 8 bits. 

$$00000011$$

Now that our number is converted, we need to take the binary complement, since the number is negative. The binary complement is found by "flipping" each bit in the number. Flipping a bit just means that if it is a 0, change it to a 1, and if it is a 1, change it to a 0.

$$00000011$$

$$11111100$$

We have now found -3 in one's complement!