In binary representation, which method assigns the highest order bit a negative value?

The method that assigns the highest order bit a negative value is known as two's complement. In two's complement representation, the highest order bit (also referred to as the sign bit) indicates the sign of the number. If the sign bit is set to 1, the number is negative, while if it is set to 0, the number is positive.

This representation allows for a straightforward and efficient way to perform arithmetic operations, such as addition and subtraction, since it eliminates the need for separate circuitry to handle positive and negative numbers. When a number is expressed in two's complement form, negative numbers are obtained by inverting all the bits of the absolute value of the number and then adding one to the least significant bit.

This system of representation is widely used in computer systems because it simplifies calculations and supports a seamless integration of positive and negative integers in a binary format. Other methods, such as sign-magnitude and excess representation, handle the sign differently and do not have the same properties that make two's complement particularly useful for arithmetic operations.