// to make sure bit twiddling works as expected.
    return ~~(x - y) >>> (Integer.SIZE - 1);
  }

  /**
   * Returns the base-2 logarithm of {@code x}, rounded according to the specified rounding mode.
   *
   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if {@code x <= 0}
   * @throws ArithmeticException if {@code mode} is {@link RoundingMode#UNNECESSARY} and {@code x}