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Probably to do multiplies, as the extra add is basically free. Adds are cheaper.



Adds are cheaper only for fixed-point computations. Floating point addition needs to denormalize one of its' arguments, perform an (integer) addition and then normalize the result.

Usually FP adds take a cycle or two longer than FP multiplication.


Depends on what you mean by ‘cheaper’. Multiplies are still more gates. The adds are slower due to longer dependency chains, not because they cost more gates.




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