Write a function Add() that returns sum of two integers. The function should not use any of the arithmetic operators (+, ++, –, -, .. etc).
Sum of two bits can be obtained by performing XOR (^) of the two bits. Carry bit can be obtained by performing AND (&) of two bits.
Above is simple Half Adder logic that can be used to add 2 single bits. We can extend this logic for integers. If x and y don’t have set bits at same position(s), then bitwise XOR (^) of x and y gives the sum of x and y. To incorporate common set bits also, bitwise AND (&) is used. Bitwise AND of x and y gives all carry bits. We calculate (x & y) << 1 and add it to x ^ y to get the required result.
Following is recursive implementation for the same approach.
int
Add(
int
x,
int
y)
{
if
(y == 0)
return
x;
else
return
Add( x ^ y, (x & y) << 1);
}