1. A method of preparing operands that are represented in two's complement format for use in binary arithmetic, comprising: for each operand, determining whether an original value thereof is within a predetermined proximity of a maximum positive/maximum negative value boundary associated with the two's complement format; and if any of the original operand values is within the predetermined proximity, adjusting all of the original operand values to produce respectively corresponding adjusted operand values and providing the adjusted operand values for use in a binary arithmetic operation.