Alteryx Foundation Micro-Credential Practice Exam

What is the range of the Int16 datatype?

1. -(2^15) to (2^15) -1

2. -(2^31) to (2^31) -1

3. -(2^63) to (2^63) -1

4. -32768 to 32767

The correct answer is: -32768 to 32767

The Int16 datatype is designed to represent integers using 16 bits. The range of values it can hold is determined by the number of bits allocated for the integer and whether it is signed or unsigned. In the case of a signed 16-bit integer, it uses one bit to denote the sign (positive or negative), leaving 15 bits for the value itself. The largest positive number representable in this format is when all 15 bits are set to 1, which calculates to 2^15 - 1, giving us 32767. Conversely, the smallest (most negative) number occurs when the sign bit is set to 1 and all other bits are set to 0, equating to - (2^15), or -32768. Hence, the computed range for the Int16 datatype spans from -32768 to 32767. This understanding clarifies why this choice accurately represents the range of values that can be stored in an Int16 datatype.