Balanced ternary
Part of a series on |
Numeral systems |
---|
List of numeral systems |
Balanced ternary is a non-standard positional numeral system (a balanced form), useful for comparison logic. While it is a ternary (base 3) number system, in the standard (unbalanced) ternary system, digits have values 0, 1 and 2. The digits in the balanced ternary system have values −1, 0, and 1.
Different sources use different glyphs used to represent the three digits in balanced ternary. In this article, 'T' (a ligature of the minus sign and 1) represents −1, while 0 and 1 represent themselves. Other conventions include using '−' and '+' to represent −1 and 1 respectively, or using Greek letter theta (Θ), which resembles a minus sign in a circle, to represent −1.
Computational properties
In the early days of computing, a few experimental Soviet computers were built with balanced ternary instead of binary, the most famous being the Setun, built by Nikolay Brusentsov and Sergei Sobolev. The notation has a number of computational advantages over regular binary. Particularly, the plus-minus consistency cuts down the carry rate in multi-digit multiplication, and the rounding-truncation equivalence cuts down the carry rate in rounding on fractions.
Balanced ternary also has a number of computational advantages over traditional ternary. Particularly, the one-digit multiplication table has no carries in balanced ternary, and the addition table has only two symmetric carries instead of three.
A possible use of balanced ternary is to represent if a list of values in a list is less than, equal to or greater than the corresponding value in a second list. Balanced ternary can also represent all integers using a separate minus sign; the value of the leading non-zero digit of a number has the sign of the number itself.
Conversion from decimal
In the balanced ternary system, the value of a digit n places left of the radix point the product of the digit and 3n. This is useful when converting between decimal and balanced ternary. For instance,
- 10bal. 3 = 1×31 + 0×30 = 310
- 10Tbal. 3 = 1×32 + 0×31 + −1×30 = 810
- −910 = −1×32 + 0×31 + 0×30 = T00bal. 3
- 810 = 1×32 + 0×31 + −1×30 = 10Tbal. 3
Similarly, the first place to the right of the radix point holds 3−1 = 1/3, the second place to the right of the decimal place holds 3−2 = 1/9, and so on. For instance,
- −2/310 = −1 + 1/3 = −1×30 + 1×3−1 = T.1bal. 3.
Dec. | Bal. T. | Expansion | Dec. | Bal. T. | Expansion | Dec. | Bal. T. | Expansion | Dec. | Bal. T. | Expansion | Dec. | Bal. T. | Expansion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
−12 | TT0 | −9−3 | −7 | T1T | −9+3−1 | −2 | T1 | −3+1 | 3 | 10 | +3 | 8 | 10T | +9−1 |
−11 | TT1 | −9−3+1 | −6 | T10 | −9+3 | −1 | T | −1 | 4 | 11 | +3+1 | 9 | 100 | +9 |
−10 | T0T | −9−1 | −5 | T11 | −9+3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1TT | +9−3−1 | 10 | 101 | +9+1 |
−9 | T00 | −9 | −4 | TT | −3−1 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 6 | 1T0 | +9−3 | 11 | 11T | +9+3−1 |
−8 | T01 | −9+1 | −3 | T0 | −3 | 2 | 1T | +3−1 | 7 | 1T1 | +9−3+1 | 12 | 110 | +9+3 |
An integer is divisible by three the digit in the units place is zero.
We may check the parity of a balanced ternary integer by checking the parity of the sum of all trits. This sum has the same parity as the integer itself.
Balanced ternary can also be extended to fractional numbers similar to how decimal numbers are written to the right of the radix point.[1]
Decimal | −0.9 | −0.8 | −0.7 | −0.6 | −0.5 | −0.4 | −0.3 | −0.2 | −0.1 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Balanced Ternary | T.010T | T.1TT1 | T.10T0 | T.11TT | 0.T or T.1 | 0.TT11 | 0.T010 | 0.T11T | 0.0T01 | 0 | 0.010T | 0.1TT1 | 0.10T0 | 0.11TT | 0.1 or 1.T | 1.TT11 | 1.T010 | 1.T11T | 1.0T01 |
In decimal or binary, integer values and terminating fractions have multiple representations. For example, = 0.1 = 0.10 = 0.09. And, = 0.12 = 0.102 = 0.012. Some balanced ternary fractions have multiple representations too. For example, = 0.1TBalanced ternary = 0.01Balanced ternary. Certainly, in the decimal and binary, we may omit the rightmost trailing infinite 0s after the radix point and gain a representations of integer or terminating fraction. But, in balanced ternary, we can't omit the rightmost trailing infinite -1s after the radix point in order to gain a representations of integer or terminating fraction.
Donald Knuth has pointed out that truncation and rounding are the same operation in balanced ternary — they produce exactly the same result (a property shared with other balanced numeral systems). The number 1/2 is not exceptional; it has two equally valid representations, and two equally valid truncations: 0.1 (round to 0, and truncate to 0) and 1.T (round to 1, and truncate to 1).
The basic operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—are done as in regular ternary. Multiplication by two can be done by adding a number to itself, or subtracting itself after a-trit-left-shifting.
An arithmetic shift left of a balanced ternary number is the equivalent of multiplication by a (positive, integral) power of 3; and an arithmetic shift right of a balanced ternary number is the equivalent of division by a (positive, integral) power of 3.
Fraction | Balanced ternary | Fraction | Balanced ternary | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1/1 | 1 | 1/11 | 0.01T11 | ||
1/2 | 0.1 | 1.T | 1/12 | 0.01T | |
1/3 | 0.1 | 1/13 | 0.01T | ||
1/4 | 0.1T | 1/14 | 0.01T0T1 | ||
1/5 | 0.1TT1 | 1/15 | 0.01TT1 | ||
1/6 | 0.01 | 0.1T | 1/16 | 0.01TT | |
1/7 | 0.0110TT | 1/17 | 0.01TTT10T0T111T01 | ||
1/8 | 0.01 | 1/18 | 0.001 | 0.01T | |
1/9 | 0.01 | 1/19 | 0.00111T10100TTT1T0T | ||
1/10 | 0.010T | 1/20 | 0.0011 |
Conversion to a fraction
The conversion of a repeating balanced ternary number to a fraction is similar to converting a repeating decimal. For example:
Irrational and transcendental numbers
As in any other integer base, irrational and transcendental numbers do not terminate or repeat. For example:
Decimal | Balanced ternary |
---|---|
Conversion from ternary
Unbalanced ternary can be converted to balanced ternary notation in two ways:
- Add 1 trit-by-trit from the first non-zero trit with carry, and then subtract 1 trit-by-trit from the same trit without borrow. For example,
- 0213 + 113 = 1023, 1023 − 113 = 1T1bal. 3 = 710.
- If a 2 is present in ternary, turn it into 1T. For example,
- 02123 = 0010bal. 3 + 1T00bal. 3 + 001Tbal. 3 = 10TTbal. 3 = 2310
Conversion to balanced ternary from any integer base
We may convert to balanced ternary with the following formula: where,
- is the original representation in the original numeral system.
- b is the original radix. b is 10 if converting from decimal.
- and are the digits k places to the left and right of the radix point respectively.
For instance,
-25.410=-(1T×1011+1TT×1010+11*101-1) =-(1T×101+1TT+11÷101) =-10T1.11TT =T01T.TT11
1010.12=1T100+1T1+1T-1 =10T+1T+0.1 =101.1
Addition, subtraction and multiplication and division
The single-trit addition, subtraction, multiplication and division tables are shown below. For subtraction and division, which are not commutative, the first operand is given to the left of the table, while the second is given at the top. For instance, the answer to 1-T=1T is found in the bottom left corner of the subtraction table.
|
|
|
|
Multi-trit addition and subtraction
Multi-trit addition and subtraction is analogous to that of binary and decimal. Add and subtract trit by trit, and add the carry appropriately. For example:
1TT1TT.1TT1 1TT1TT.1TT1 1TT1TT.1TT1 1TT1TT.1TT1 + 11T1.T - 11T1.T - 11T1.T -> + TT1T.1 -------------- -------------- --------------- 1T0T10.0TT1 1T1001.TTT1 1T1001.TTT1 + 1T + T T + T T -------------- ---------------- ---------------- 1T1110.0TT1 1110TT.TTT1 1110TT.TTT1 + T + T 1 + T 1 -------------- ---------------- ---------------- 1T0110.0TT1 1100T.TTT1 1100T.TTT1
Multi-trit multiplication
Multi-trit multiplication is analogous to that in decimal and binary.
1TT1.TT × T11T.1 ------------- 1TT.1TT multiply 1 T11T.11 multiply T 1TT1T.T multiply 1 1TT1TT multiply 1 T11T11 multiply T ------------- 0T0000T.10T
Multi-trit division
Balanced ternary division is analogous to decimal or binary division.
However, 0.510 = 0.1111...bal. 3 or 1.TTTT...bal. 3. If the dividend over the plus or minus half divisor, the trit of the quotient must be 1 or T. If the dividend is between the plus and minus of half the divisor, the trit of the quotient is 0. The magnitude of the dividend must be compared with that of half the divisor before settinh the quotient trit. For example,
1TT1.TT quotient 0.5 × divisor T01.0 ------------- divisor T11T.1 ) T0000T.10T dividend T11T1 T000<T010, set 1 ------- 1T1T0 1TT1T 1T1T0>10T0, set T ------- 111T 1TT1T 1110>10T0, set T ------- T00.1 T11T.1 T001<T010, set 1 -------- 1T1.00 1TT.1T 1T100>10T0, set T -------- 1T.T1T 1T.T1T 1TT1T>10T0, set T -------- 0
Another example,
1TTT 0.5 × divisor 1T ------- Divisor 11 )1T01T 1T=1T, but 1T.01>1T, set 1 11 ----- T10 T10<T1, set T TT ------ T11 T11<T1, set T TT ------ TT TT<T1, set T TT ---- 0
Another example,
101.TTTTTTTTT… or 100.111111111… 0.5 × divisor 1T ----------------- divisor 11 )111T 11>1T, set 1 11 ----- 1 T1<1<1T, set 0 --- 1T 1T=1T, trits end, set 1.TTTTTTTTT… or 0.111111111…
Square roots and cube roots
Extractin the sqyare root in balanced ternary is analogous to that in decimal or binary.
As in division, we should check the value of half the divisor first. For example,
1. 1 1 T 1 T T 0 0 ... ------------------------- √ 1T 1<1T<11, set 1 - 1 ----- 1×10=10 1.0T 1.0T>0.10, set 1 1T0 -1.T0 -------- 11×10=110 1T0T 1T0T>110, set 1 10T0 -10T0 -------- 111×10=1110 T1T0T T1T0T<TTT0, set T 100T0 -T0010 --------- 111T×10=111T0 1TTT0T 1TTT0T>111T0, set 1 10T110 -10T110 ---------- 111T1×10=111T10 TT1TT0T TT1TT0T<TTT1T0, set T 100TTT0 -T001110 ----------- 111T1T×10=111T1T0 T001TT0T T001TT0T<TTT1T10, set T 10T11110 -T01TTTT0 ------------ 111T1TT×10=111T1TT0 T001T0T TTT1T110<T001T0T<111T1TT0, set 0 - T Return 1 ----------- 111T1TT0×10=111T1TT00 T001T000T TTT1T1100<T001T000T<111T1TT00, set 0 - T Return 1 ------------- 111T1TT00*10=111T1TT000 T001T00000T ...
Extracting the cube root in balanced ternary analogous to that in decimal or binary cube root too.
Like division, we should check half divisor first too. For example:
1. 1 T 1 0... 3--------------------- √ 1T - 1 1<1T<10T,set 1 ------- 1.000 1×100=100 -0.100 borrow 100×, do division ------- 1TT 1.T00 1T00>1TT, set 1 1×1×1000+1=1001 -1.001 ---------- T0T000 11×100 - 1100 borrow 100×, do division --------- 10T000 TT1T00 TT1T00<T01000, set T 11×11×1000+1=1TT1001 -T11T00T ------------ 1TTT01000 11T×100 - 11T00 borrow 100×, do division ----------- 1T1T01TT 1TTTT0100 1TTTT0100>1T1T01TT, set 1 11T×11T×1000+1=11111001 - 11111001 -------------- 1T10T000 11T1×100 - 11T100 borrow 100×, do division ---------- 10T0T01TT 1T0T0T00 T01010T11<1T0T0T00<10T0T01TT, set 0 11T1×11T1×1000+1=1TT1T11001 - TT1T00 return 100× ------------- 1T10T000000 ...
Hence 3√2=1.25992110=1.1T1'000'111'001'T01'00T'1T1'T10'111bal. 3
Other applications
Balanced ternary has other applications besides computing. For example, a classical two-pan balance, with one weight for each power of 3, can weigh relatively heavy objects accurately with a small number of weights, by moving weights between the two pans and the table. For example, with weights for each power of 3 through 81, a 60-gram object (6010 = 1T1T0) will be balanced perfectly with an 81 gram weight in the other pan, the 27 gram weight in its own pan, the 9 gram weight in the other pan, the 3 gram weight in its own pan, and the 1 gram weight set aside.
Similarly, consider a currency system with coins worth 1¢, 3¢, 9¢, 27¢, 81¢. If the buyer and the seller each have only one of each kind of coin, any transaction up to 121¢ is possible. For example, if the price is 7¢ (1T1), the buyer pays 1¢ + 9¢ and receives 3¢ in change.
See also
- Setun, a ternary computer
- Ternary logic
- Numeral system
- Methods of computing square roots
- Salamis Tablet
Notes
References
- Hayes, Brian (2001), "Third base", American Scientist, 89 (6): 490–494, doi:10.1511/2001.40.3268.
External links
- Development of ternary computers at Moscow State University
- Representation of Fractional Numbers in Balanced Ternary
- “Third base”, ternary and balanced ternary number systems
- The Balanced Ternary Number System (includes decimal integer to balanced ternary converter)
- The binomial triangle reduced to balanced ternary lists. OEIS OEIS: A182929
- Balanced (Signed) Ternary Notation by Brian J. Shelburne (PDF file)
- The ternary calculating machine of Thomas Fowler by Mark Glusker