A method comprises receiving an N-bit unsigned number and a control signal, in response to the control signal indicating an increment operation, increasing the N-bit unsigned number by 1 through an increment/decrement apparatus having (2m+3) levels of 2-input logic gates, wherein m is equal to log2(N) and in response to the control signal indicating a decrement operation, decreasing the N-bit unsigned number by 1 through the increment/decrement apparatus.