Second representation requires at least 6 bits to represent numbers between 0 to 59. But 5 bits are not just enough - 25 = 32, which can only represent from 0 up to 31 seconds.

According to K.N. King:

You may be wondering how it 's possible to store the seconds - a number between 0 and 59 in a field with only 5 bits. Well. DOS cheats: it divides the number of seconds by 2, so the seconds member is actually between 0 and 29.

That really makes no sense?

  • eraor
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    3 hours ago

    So you only have seconds in even numbers?

    • MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de
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      2 hours ago

      Could do only-odd numbers if you wanted to be squirrely about it, but I think most people would get more inquisitive upon never seeing a zero.