Groups > comp.lang.python > #198021

( n & -n ).bit_length() - 1 ## Really?

Newsgroups	comp.lang.python
From	"Johann \"Myrkraverk\" Oskarsson" <johann@myrkraverk.invalid>
Subject	( n & -n ).bit_length() - 1 ## Really?
Organization	Watcom Pro Ltd.
Message-ID	<X0ArS.155893$NMu2.109571@fx15.ams4> (permalink)
Date	2026-09-20 01:56 +0800

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Dear comp.lang.python,

When I asked ChatGPT how I would get the number of zero bits in a Python
integer, it spouted some nonsense about calculating it with

   ( n & -n ).bit_length() - 1

but that hardly seems like the best way.  Specifically, I'm trying to
count the number of zero bits to the right of the rightmost one bit.

The above formula seems to work, given a few spot checks, but I thought
this should be a utility function in the underlying multiprecision lib-
rary in Python.  Is the calculation n & -n really necessary?


What does the Lawrence D'Oliveiro say about this?
-- 
Johann | email: invalid -> com | http://www.myrkraverk.com/blog/
I'm not from the Internet, I just work there. | via Easynews.com
https://bsky.app/profile/myrkraverk.bsky.social | for ( ;; ) _:;

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( n & -n ).bit_length() - 1 ## Really? "Johann \"Myrkraverk\" Oskarsson" <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-09-20 01:56 +0800
  Re: ( n & -n ).bit_length() - 1 ## Really? ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram) - 2026-09-19 18:23 +0000
    Re: ( n & -n ).bit_length() - 1 ## Really? "Johann \"Myrkraverk\" Oskarsson" <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-09-20 03:15 +0800
      Re: ( n & -n ).bit_length() - 1 ## Really? Lane W <cactus_DAC@yahoo.com> - 2026-09-19 13:37 -0600
        Re: ( n & -n ).bit_length() - 1 ## Really? "Johann \"Myrkraverk\" Oskarsson" <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-09-20 04:32 +0800
          Re: ( n & -n ).bit_length() - 1 ## Really? ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram) - 2026-09-19 20:39 +0000
            Re: ( n & -n ).bit_length() - 1 ## Really? "Johann \"Myrkraverk\" Oskarsson" <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-09-20 04:56 +0800
            myrkraverk.c (was: Re: ( n & -n ).bit_length() - 1 ## Really?) "Johann \"Myrkraverk\" Oskarsson" <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-09-20 18:00 +0800
              Re: myrkraverk.c ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram) - 2026-09-20 12:25 +0000
                Re: myrkraverk.c "Johann \"Myrkraverk\" Oskarsson" <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-09-20 21:33 +0800
                Re: myrkraverk.c ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram) - 2026-09-20 13:48 +0000
                Re: myrkraverk.c "Johann \"Myrkraverk\" Oskarsson" <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-09-20 22:09 +0800
              jacobi_symbol.py (was: Re: myrkraverk.c) Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-09-21 20:34 +0800
                Re: jacobi_symbol.py Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-09-22 15:20 +0800
                Re: jacobi_symbol.py Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-09-25 23:32 +0800
          Re: ( n & -n ).bit_length() - 1 ## Really? "Johann \"Myrkraverk\" Oskarsson" <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-09-20 04:52 +0800
  Re: ( n & -n ).bit_length() - 1 ## Really? Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2026-09-19 14:50 -0700

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