Minimum/maximum hexidecimal values in C++

[Teap]

Hi all.

For a computer science course, I am required to write a program in C++ that stores the maximum integer (in hexidecimal form) into a variable, displays it, then adds any positive integer to it in order to show how C++ handles overloading. This is my code so far:

#include <iostream>
#include <cstdlib>
using namespace std;

unsigned int maxInt = 0xFFFFFFFF;

int numberToAdd = 0xF;

int main()
{
    cout << maxInt << endl;
    cout << numberToAdd << endl;
    cout << "\n" << numberToAdd + maxInt << endl << endl;
    system("pause");
    return 0;
}

The output is the following:

4294967295
15

14

As you can see, the number resets itself to 0 and continues adding when the maximum value is exceeded. This is fine and works; HOWEVER, I have to do the same thing with the largest negative number (take the largest negative number and subtract a number from it to see what happens).

Obviously, I had to add "unsigned" in front of the integer variable in order to store 8 hexadecimal values and get the largest possible value. So my question is, how can I use the largest negative hexadecimal value and add a negative sign in front of it? Keep in mind that it has to be stored into a variable. I apologize if this is a dumb question, but this week is the first time we've even learned how to translate to/from hexidecimal notation, and my teacher failed to mention how to use hexidecimal notation in C++ at all (I had to google the fact that you have to add 0x before the characters for the compiler to know). Thanks you guys for your help.

[ZeekyHBomb]

8 hexadecimal digits*

Look up std::numeric_limits.
Also, the effect is only guaranteed for unsigned integers. The behavior for signed integers is not defined by the C++ standard.

[ipha]

The largest negative number for a 32bit int is -2147483648 which is 0x80000000 in hex.

To understand why you'll need to know how negative numbers are stored in binary([url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two's_complement]Two's complement[/url]).

[ShaunOfTheLive]

[QUOTE=Teap;27546262]Hi all.

For a computer science course, I am required to write a program in C++ that stores the maximum integer (in hexidecimal form) into a variable, displays it, then adds any positive integer to it in order to show how C++ handles overloading.[/QUOTE]

I think you mean overflowing, not overloading.

[Teap]

Yes I meant overflowing. Whoops.