Compute how many bits to require convert one integer to another

Problem

Write a function to determine the number of bits required to convert integer A to integer B.

Input: 31, 14

Output: 2

Solution

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int bits_different(int a, int b)

{

int dif = a^b;

int bits = 0;

while(dif != 0){

bits ++;

dif &= (dif - 1);

}

return bits;

}

int main(int argc, char* argv[])

{

cout.unsetf(ios::dec);

cout.setf(ios::hex);

cout.setf(ios::showbase);

int a = 31;

int b = 14;

cout << "different bits is: "<< bits_different(a, b) << endl;

return 0;

}