-0.000 000 000 742 147 676 11 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal -0.000 000 000 742 147 676 11(10) to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation standard (1 bit for sign, 8 bits for exponent, 23 bits for mantissa)

What are the steps to convert decimal number
-0.000 000 000 742 147 676 11(10) to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation (1 bit for sign, 8 bits for exponent, 23 bits for mantissa)

1. Start with the positive version of the number:

|-0.000 000 000 742 147 676 11| = 0.000 000 000 742 147 676 11


2. First, convert to binary (in base 2) the integer part: 0.
Divide the number repeatedly by 2.

Keep track of each remainder.

We stop when we get a quotient that is equal to zero.


  • division = quotient + remainder;
  • 0 ÷ 2 = 0 + 0;

3. Construct the base 2 representation of the integer part of the number.

Take all the remainders starting from the bottom of the list constructed above.

0(10) =


0(2)


4. Convert to binary (base 2) the fractional part: 0.000 000 000 742 147 676 11.

Multiply it repeatedly by 2.


Keep track of each integer part of the results.


Stop when we get a fractional part that is equal to zero.


  • #) multiplying = integer + fractional part;
  • 1) 0.000 000 000 742 147 676 11 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 001 484 295 352 22;
  • 2) 0.000 000 001 484 295 352 22 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 002 968 590 704 44;
  • 3) 0.000 000 002 968 590 704 44 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 005 937 181 408 88;
  • 4) 0.000 000 005 937 181 408 88 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 011 874 362 817 76;
  • 5) 0.000 000 011 874 362 817 76 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 023 748 725 635 52;
  • 6) 0.000 000 023 748 725 635 52 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 047 497 451 271 04;
  • 7) 0.000 000 047 497 451 271 04 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 094 994 902 542 08;
  • 8) 0.000 000 094 994 902 542 08 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 189 989 805 084 16;
  • 9) 0.000 000 189 989 805 084 16 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 379 979 610 168 32;
  • 10) 0.000 000 379 979 610 168 32 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 759 959 220 336 64;
  • 11) 0.000 000 759 959 220 336 64 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 001 519 918 440 673 28;
  • 12) 0.000 001 519 918 440 673 28 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 003 039 836 881 346 56;
  • 13) 0.000 003 039 836 881 346 56 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 006 079 673 762 693 12;
  • 14) 0.000 006 079 673 762 693 12 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 012 159 347 525 386 24;
  • 15) 0.000 012 159 347 525 386 24 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 024 318 695 050 772 48;
  • 16) 0.000 024 318 695 050 772 48 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 048 637 390 101 544 96;
  • 17) 0.000 048 637 390 101 544 96 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 097 274 780 203 089 92;
  • 18) 0.000 097 274 780 203 089 92 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 194 549 560 406 179 84;
  • 19) 0.000 194 549 560 406 179 84 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 389 099 120 812 359 68;
  • 20) 0.000 389 099 120 812 359 68 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 778 198 241 624 719 36;
  • 21) 0.000 778 198 241 624 719 36 × 2 = 0 + 0.001 556 396 483 249 438 72;
  • 22) 0.001 556 396 483 249 438 72 × 2 = 0 + 0.003 112 792 966 498 877 44;
  • 23) 0.003 112 792 966 498 877 44 × 2 = 0 + 0.006 225 585 932 997 754 88;
  • 24) 0.006 225 585 932 997 754 88 × 2 = 0 + 0.012 451 171 865 995 509 76;
  • 25) 0.012 451 171 865 995 509 76 × 2 = 0 + 0.024 902 343 731 991 019 52;
  • 26) 0.024 902 343 731 991 019 52 × 2 = 0 + 0.049 804 687 463 982 039 04;
  • 27) 0.049 804 687 463 982 039 04 × 2 = 0 + 0.099 609 374 927 964 078 08;
  • 28) 0.099 609 374 927 964 078 08 × 2 = 0 + 0.199 218 749 855 928 156 16;
  • 29) 0.199 218 749 855 928 156 16 × 2 = 0 + 0.398 437 499 711 856 312 32;
  • 30) 0.398 437 499 711 856 312 32 × 2 = 0 + 0.796 874 999 423 712 624 64;
  • 31) 0.796 874 999 423 712 624 64 × 2 = 1 + 0.593 749 998 847 425 249 28;
  • 32) 0.593 749 998 847 425 249 28 × 2 = 1 + 0.187 499 997 694 850 498 56;
  • 33) 0.187 499 997 694 850 498 56 × 2 = 0 + 0.374 999 995 389 700 997 12;
  • 34) 0.374 999 995 389 700 997 12 × 2 = 0 + 0.749 999 990 779 401 994 24;
  • 35) 0.749 999 990 779 401 994 24 × 2 = 1 + 0.499 999 981 558 803 988 48;
  • 36) 0.499 999 981 558 803 988 48 × 2 = 0 + 0.999 999 963 117 607 976 96;
  • 37) 0.999 999 963 117 607 976 96 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 926 235 215 953 92;
  • 38) 0.999 999 926 235 215 953 92 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 852 470 431 907 84;
  • 39) 0.999 999 852 470 431 907 84 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 704 940 863 815 68;
  • 40) 0.999 999 704 940 863 815 68 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 409 881 727 631 36;
  • 41) 0.999 999 409 881 727 631 36 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 998 819 763 455 262 72;
  • 42) 0.999 998 819 763 455 262 72 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 997 639 526 910 525 44;
  • 43) 0.999 997 639 526 910 525 44 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 995 279 053 821 050 88;
  • 44) 0.999 995 279 053 821 050 88 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 990 558 107 642 101 76;
  • 45) 0.999 990 558 107 642 101 76 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 981 116 215 284 203 52;
  • 46) 0.999 981 116 215 284 203 52 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 962 232 430 568 407 04;
  • 47) 0.999 962 232 430 568 407 04 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 924 464 861 136 814 08;
  • 48) 0.999 924 464 861 136 814 08 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 848 929 722 273 628 16;
  • 49) 0.999 848 929 722 273 628 16 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 697 859 444 547 256 32;
  • 50) 0.999 697 859 444 547 256 32 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 395 718 889 094 512 64;
  • 51) 0.999 395 718 889 094 512 64 × 2 = 1 + 0.998 791 437 778 189 025 28;
  • 52) 0.998 791 437 778 189 025 28 × 2 = 1 + 0.997 582 875 556 378 050 56;
  • 53) 0.997 582 875 556 378 050 56 × 2 = 1 + 0.995 165 751 112 756 101 12;
  • 54) 0.995 165 751 112 756 101 12 × 2 = 1 + 0.990 331 502 225 512 202 24;

We didn't get any fractional part that was equal to zero. But we had enough iterations (over Mantissa limit) and at least one integer that was different from zero => FULL STOP (Losing precision - the converted number we get in the end will be just a very good approximation of the initial one).


5. Construct the base 2 representation of the fractional part of the number.

Take all the integer parts of the multiplying operations, starting from the top of the constructed list above:


0.000 000 000 742 147 676 11(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0011 0010 1111 1111 1111 1111 11(2)

6. Positive number before normalization:

0.000 000 000 742 147 676 11(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0011 0010 1111 1111 1111 1111 11(2)

7. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 31 positions to the right, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


0.000 000 000 742 147 676 11(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0011 0010 1111 1111 1111 1111 11(2) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0011 0010 1111 1111 1111 1111 11(2) × 20 =


1.1001 0111 1111 1111 1111 111(2) × 2-31


8. Up to this moment, there are the following elements that would feed into the 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

Sign 1 (a negative number)


Exponent (unadjusted): -31


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.1001 0111 1111 1111 1111 111


9. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 8 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


Exponent (unadjusted) + 2(8-1) - 1 =


-31 + 2(8-1) - 1 =


(-31 + 127)(10) =


96(10)


10. Convert the adjusted exponent from the decimal (base 10) to 8 bit binary.

Use the same technique of repeatedly dividing by 2:


  • division = quotient + remainder;
  • 96 ÷ 2 = 48 + 0;
  • 48 ÷ 2 = 24 + 0;
  • 24 ÷ 2 = 12 + 0;
  • 12 ÷ 2 = 6 + 0;
  • 6 ÷ 2 = 3 + 0;
  • 3 ÷ 2 = 1 + 1;
  • 1 ÷ 2 = 0 + 1;

11. Construct the base 2 representation of the adjusted exponent.

Take all the remainders starting from the bottom of the list constructed above.


Exponent (adjusted) =


96(10) =


0110 0000(2)


12. Normalize the mantissa.

a) Remove the leading (the leftmost) bit, since it's allways 1, and the decimal point, if the case.


b) Adjust its length to 23 bits, only if necessary (not the case here).


Mantissa (normalized) =


1. 100 1011 1111 1111 1111 1111 =


100 1011 1111 1111 1111 1111


13. The three elements that make up the number's 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

Sign (1 bit) =
1 (a negative number)


Exponent (8 bits) =
0110 0000


Mantissa (23 bits) =
100 1011 1111 1111 1111 1111


Decimal number -0.000 000 000 742 147 676 11 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

1 - 0110 0000 - 100 1011 1111 1111 1111 1111


How to convert decimal numbers from base ten to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point standard

Follow the steps below to convert a base 10 decimal number to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point:

  • 1. If the number to be converted is negative, start with its the positive version.
  • 2. First convert the integer part. Divide repeatedly by 2 the base ten positive representation of the integer number that is to be converted to binary, until we get a quotient that is equal to zero, keeping track of each remainder.
  • 3. Construct the base 2 representation of the positive integer part of the number, by taking all the remainders of the previous dividing operations, starting from the bottom of the list constructed above. Thus, the last remainder of the divisions becomes the first symbol (the leftmost) of the base two number, while the first remainder becomes the last symbol (the rightmost).
  • 4. Then convert the fractional part. Multiply the number repeatedly by 2, until we get a fractional part that is equal to zero, keeping track of each integer part of the results.
  • 5. Construct the base 2 representation of the fractional part of the number by taking all the integer parts of the previous multiplying operations, starting from the top of the constructed list above (they should appear in the binary representation, from left to right, in the order they have been calculated).
  • 6. Normalize the binary representation of the number, by shifting the decimal point (or if you prefer, the decimal mark) "n" positions either to the left or to the right, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of the decimal point.
  • 7. Adjust the exponent in 8 bit excess/bias notation and then convert it from decimal (base 10) to 8 bit binary, by using the same technique of repeatedly dividing by 2, as shown above:
    Exponent (adjusted) = Exponent (unadjusted) + 2(8-1) - 1
  • 8. Normalize mantissa, remove the leading (leftmost) bit, since it's allways '1' (and the decimal sign if the case) and adjust its length to 23 bits, either by removing the excess bits from the right (losing precision...) or by adding extra '0' bits to the right.
  • 9. Sign (it takes 1 bit) is either 1 for a negative or 0 for a positive number.

Example: convert the negative number -25.347 from decimal system (base ten) to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point:

  • 1. Start with the positive version of the number:

    |-25.347| = 25.347

  • 2. First convert the integer part, 25. Divide it repeatedly by 2, keeping track of each remainder, until we get a quotient that is equal to zero:
    • division = quotient + remainder;
    • 25 ÷ 2 = 12 + 1;
    • 12 ÷ 2 = 6 + 0;
    • 6 ÷ 2 = 3 + 0;
    • 3 ÷ 2 = 1 + 1;
    • 1 ÷ 2 = 0 + 1;
    • We have encountered a quotient that is ZERO => FULL STOP
  • 3. Construct the base 2 representation of the integer part of the number by taking all the remainders of the previous dividing operations, starting from the bottom of the list constructed above:

    25(10) = 1 1001(2)

  • 4. Then convert the fractional part, 0.347. Multiply repeatedly by 2, keeping track of each integer part of the results, until we get a fractional part that is equal to zero:
    • #) multiplying = integer + fractional part;
    • 1) 0.347 × 2 = 0 + 0.694;
    • 2) 0.694 × 2 = 1 + 0.388;
    • 3) 0.388 × 2 = 0 + 0.776;
    • 4) 0.776 × 2 = 1 + 0.552;
    • 5) 0.552 × 2 = 1 + 0.104;
    • 6) 0.104 × 2 = 0 + 0.208;
    • 7) 0.208 × 2 = 0 + 0.416;
    • 8) 0.416 × 2 = 0 + 0.832;
    • 9) 0.832 × 2 = 1 + 0.664;
    • 10) 0.664 × 2 = 1 + 0.328;
    • 11) 0.328 × 2 = 0 + 0.656;
    • 12) 0.656 × 2 = 1 + 0.312;
    • 13) 0.312 × 2 = 0 + 0.624;
    • 14) 0.624 × 2 = 1 + 0.248;
    • 15) 0.248 × 2 = 0 + 0.496;
    • 16) 0.496 × 2 = 0 + 0.992;
    • 17) 0.992 × 2 = 1 + 0.984;
    • 18) 0.984 × 2 = 1 + 0.968;
    • 19) 0.968 × 2 = 1 + 0.936;
    • 20) 0.936 × 2 = 1 + 0.872;
    • 21) 0.872 × 2 = 1 + 0.744;
    • 22) 0.744 × 2 = 1 + 0.488;
    • 23) 0.488 × 2 = 0 + 0.976;
    • 24) 0.976 × 2 = 1 + 0.952;
    • We didn't get any fractional part that was equal to zero. But we had enough iterations (over Mantissa limit = 23) and at least one integer part that was different from zero => FULL STOP (losing precision...).
  • 5. Construct the base 2 representation of the fractional part of the number, by taking all the integer parts of the previous multiplying operations, starting from the top of the constructed list above:

    0.347(10) = 0.0101 1000 1101 0100 1111 1101(2)

  • 6. Summarizing - the positive number before normalization:

    25.347(10) = 1 1001.0101 1000 1101 0100 1111 1101(2)

  • 7. Normalize the binary representation of the number, shifting the decimal point 4 positions to the left so that only one non-zero digit stays to the left of the decimal point:

    25.347(10) =
    1 1001.0101 1000 1101 0100 1111 1101(2) =
    1 1001.0101 1000 1101 0100 1111 1101(2) × 20 =
    1.1001 0101 1000 1101 0100 1111 1101(2) × 24

  • 8. Up to this moment, there are the following elements that would feed into the 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point:

    Sign: 1 (a negative number)

    Exponent (unadjusted): 4

    Mantissa (not-normalized): 1.1001 0101 1000 1101 0100 1111 1101

  • 9. Adjust the exponent in 8 bit excess/bias notation and then convert it from decimal (base 10) to 8 bit binary (base 2), by using the same technique of repeatedly dividing it by 2, as already demonstrated above:

    Exponent (adjusted) = Exponent (unadjusted) + 2(8-1) - 1 = (4 + 127)(10) = 131(10) =
    1000 0011(2)

  • 10. Normalize the mantissa, remove the leading (leftmost) bit, since it's allways '1' (and the decimal point) and adjust its length to 23 bits, by removing the excess bits from the right (losing precision...):

    Mantissa (not-normalized): 1.1001 0101 1000 1101 0100 1111 1101

    Mantissa (normalized): 100 1010 1100 0110 1010 0111

  • Conclusion:

    Sign (1 bit) = 1 (a negative number)

    Exponent (8 bits) = 1000 0011

    Mantissa (23 bits) = 100 1010 1100 0110 1010 0111

  • Number -25.347, converted from the decimal system (base 10) to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point =
    1 - 1000 0011 - 100 1010 1100 0110 1010 0111