title: Shifting the Sign extended constant in MIPS
body: <p>Why do we shift by 2 the sign extended 16bit constant in branching instruction in MIPS? I am confused with this idea. What good does this shifting brings to the sign extended 16 bit constant. Here is the picture:</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/MIdlZ.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>Regards</p>