In an arithmetic processor having an adder tree that generates a final sum of a plurality of numbers, each of which is internally represented as a signed-digit number, said adder tree having a plurality of intermediate adder stages and a final adder stage, each adder stage having one or more adders for adding an augend and addend pair, each pair being one of said plurality of numbers or a partial sum obtained as the result of an addition in a preceding intermediate adder stage, said augend and addend pair having an overlapping portion wherein the digits of said augend overlap digits of said addend and first and second non-overlapping portions caused by the augend being offset with respect to said addend wherein said first non-overlapping portion contains only higher order digits of said addend and said second non-overlapping portion contains only lower order digits of said augend, each of said intermediate adder stages including one or more adders comprising logic circuitry for adding the digits of said augend and addend in said overlapping portion to generate part of said partial sum for application to an adder in a subsequent adder stage, generating a carry resulting from the addition of the highest order digits of said overlapping portion, and directly applying the digits in the first non-overlapping portion to said subsequent adder stage to form part of the partial sum therein.