A method and apparatus for adding numbers represented in redundant form or for subtracting numbers received in redundant form and for comparing results in redundant form for equality to an expected value. A redundant arithmetic circuit performs an arithmetic operation on operands received in redundant form to generate a result represented in redundant form. A comparator circuit is coupled with the arithmetic circuit to receive the result in redundant form and to perform an equality comparison of the result to the expected value, and to indicate the truth of said equality comparison independent of carry signal propagation from the least significant digit to the most significant digit.