title: Disassembling code and finding the length of `la`
body: <p>Given the MIPS assembly and its disassembly below. How long is the <code>la</code> instruction? Why is the <code>la</code> instruction translated to <code>lui</code> (load upper immediate)? Why is it loading a negative number?</p>
  
  <p>MIPS assembly:</p>
  
  <pre><code>la $t1,addr1
  lw $t1,($t1)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Disassembly:</p>
  
  <pre><code>0x9D00024C: LUI T1, -24576
  0x9D000254: LW T1, 0(T1)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Is the length determined by subtracting <code>0x9D000254-0x9D00024C</code>? I'm not sure why <code>la</code> is translated into <code>lui</code> though and why it's negative.</p>