>> I created training data by generating random 8-bit unsigned integers and adding them together with wrapping.
So, binary addition in [0,256] (base 10). Did the author try the trained network on numbers outside the training range?
It's one thing to find that your neural net discovered this one neat trick for binary addition with 8-bit numbers, and something completely different to find that it figured out binary addition in the general case.
How hard the latter would be... depends. What were the activation functions? E.g. it is quite possible to learn how to add two (arbitrary, base-10) integers with a simple regression for no other reason than regression being itself based on addition (ok, summation).
So, binary addition in [0,256] (base 10). Did the author try the trained network on numbers outside the training range?
It's one thing to find that your neural net discovered this one neat trick for binary addition with 8-bit numbers, and something completely different to find that it figured out binary addition in the general case.
How hard the latter would be... depends. What were the activation functions? E.g. it is quite possible to learn how to add two (arbitrary, base-10) integers with a simple regression for no other reason than regression being itself based on addition (ok, summation).