Bits of integer

[J-F Garnier]

(12-07-2022 06:33 AM)Paul Dale Wrote:  Log₂ is the way here.

The 34S included this function.
The DM43/WP43/C43 will, likely, also include it.

As noted in the OP, the log2 method can fail when the argument is close to the maximum representable integer.
As does log10 fail to extract the number's exponent on various machines in the same condition:
HP41C, HP15C:
1E9 1 - LOG INT --> 9
Free42:
1E33 1 - LOG IP --> 33

It's just a rounding effect (correct results, no error).

But I agree that, in most cases when the argument range is known and limited, the log2 method is the simplest (but not necessary the fastest) way.

J-F