16-bit Sum Product

Question

Problem: 16-bit Sum Product. Solve this hands-on electronics task on EWskills.

Accepted Answer

#include 
#include 
using namespace std;

// a and b are 16-bit signed inputs
// sum and product are 32-bit signed outputs
void compute(int16_t a, int16_t b, int32_t& sum, int32_t& product) {
    sum = static_cast(a) + static_cast(b);
    product = static_cast(a) * static_cast(b);
}

int main() {
    int16_t a, b;
    cin >> a >> b;

    int32_t sum = 0, product = 0;

    compute(a, b, sum, product);

    cout << sum << " " << product;

    return 0;
}

Explanation & Logic Summary:

16-bit inputs reflect typical sensor/register data
32-bit outputs prevent overflow during arithmetic
Explicit casting ensures correct integer promotion
Reference parameters allow multiple outputs without heap usage
Fully deterministic and portable across embedded targets

Firmware Relevance & Real-World Context:

Common in embedded math pipelines
Mirrors DSP accumulator patterns
Prevents silent overflow bugs
Reinforces fixed-width arithmetic discipline
Excellent screening problem for embedded C++ interviews

7. 16-bit Sum Product