Difference between revisions of "6502 Math"
Chris Tyler (talk | contribs) (Created page with "Category:6502The 6502 processor is limited to very simple math operations, and various processor flags affect these operations. == Addition == The ADC (add with carry) i...") |
Chris Tyler (talk | contribs) (→Subtraction) |
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The carry flag (which can be viewed as a "borrow" flag for subtraction) is cleared if the result underflows $00 and set otherwise (in other words, if doing unsigned math, the Carry flag is cleared if a bit must be "borrowed"). | The carry flag (which can be viewed as a "borrow" flag for subtraction) is cleared if the result underflows $00 and set otherwise (in other words, if doing unsigned math, the Carry flag is cleared if a bit must be "borrowed"). | ||
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| + | Normally, you will set the carry flag (with <code>SEC</code>) before performing a subtraction on the lowest byte of a single- or multi-byte subtraction, and then perform subtraction on each byte in sequence up to the highest byte. The borrows will automatically be carried from one byte to the next. | ||
The Overflow (V) flag is set if the signed result of the operation is above 127 ($7f) or below -128 ($80). | The Overflow (V) flag is set if the signed result of the operation is above 127 ($7f) or below -128 ($80). | ||
Revision as of 21:43, 14 January 2020
The 6502 processor is limited to very simple math operations, and various processor flags affect these operations.
Addition
The ADC (add with carry) instruction adds together:
the value in the accumulator + the specified byte + the carry flag
If the unsigned value overflows a single byte, the carry flag will be set.
It is therefore important to clear the carry flag (with CLC) before adding the lowest byte of a single or multi-byte value. If a multi-byte addition is performed starting with the lowest byte and proceeding to the highest byte, the carry flag will correctly carry bits forward from one byte to the next. For example, this code adds $30F0 and $0120:
LDA #$F0 ; A=$F0 CLC ; C=0 ADC #$20 ; Result is $F0+$20+C = $110; therefore A=$10 and C=1 STA LOWBYTE LDA #$30 ; A=$30 ADC #$01 ; Value is $30+$01+C = $32; therefore A=$32 and C=0 STA HIGHBYTE
The Overflow (V) flag is set if the signed result of the operation is above 127 ($7f) or below -128 ($80).
Subtraction
The SBC (subtract with carry) operation subtracts:
the value in the accumulator - the specified byte - (not Carry)
Where the not operation inverts the value of the carry flag.
The carry flag (which can be viewed as a "borrow" flag for subtraction) is cleared if the result underflows $00 and set otherwise (in other words, if doing unsigned math, the Carry flag is cleared if a bit must be "borrowed").
Normally, you will set the carry flag (with SEC) before performing a subtraction on the lowest byte of a single- or multi-byte subtraction, and then perform subtraction on each byte in sequence up to the highest byte. The borrows will automatically be carried from one byte to the next.
The Overflow (V) flag is set if the signed result of the operation is above 127 ($7f) or below -128 ($80).
Division / LSR
There is no general division operation available. However, Logical Shift Right will effectively perform a division-by-two. A zero will be rotated into the highest bit, and the lowest bit will be shifted into the Carry flag (C).
Multiplication / ASL
There is no general multiplication operation available. However, Arithmetic Shift Left will effectively perform a multiplication-by-two. A zero will be rotated into the lowest bit, and highest bit will be shifted into the Carry flag (C).
Rotate Right/Left
The Rotate Right and Rotate Left (ROR/ROL) instructions are like the LSR/ASL instructions, except that the Carry flag is rotated into one end of the byte, and the bit from the other end is rotated into the Carry flag. For example, ROR will shift C into the high bit and the low bit into C. Therefore, it is possible to perform a multi-byte rotate by stringing together ROR or ROL instructions.
