-0.000 000 000 742 147 676 276 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal -0.000 000 000 742 147 676 276(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
-0.000 000 000 742 147 676 276(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:

|-0.000 000 000 742 147 676 276| = 0.000 000 000 742 147 676 276


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: 0.000 000 000 742 147 676 276.

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) 0.000 000 000 742 147 676 276 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 001 484 295 352 552;
  • 2) 0.000 000 001 484 295 352 552 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 002 968 590 705 104;
  • 3) 0.000 000 002 968 590 705 104 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 005 937 181 410 208;
  • 4) 0.000 000 005 937 181 410 208 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 011 874 362 820 416;
  • 5) 0.000 000 011 874 362 820 416 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 023 748 725 640 832;
  • 6) 0.000 000 023 748 725 640 832 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 047 497 451 281 664;
  • 7) 0.000 000 047 497 451 281 664 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 094 994 902 563 328;
  • 8) 0.000 000 094 994 902 563 328 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 189 989 805 126 656;
  • 9) 0.000 000 189 989 805 126 656 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 379 979 610 253 312;
  • 10) 0.000 000 379 979 610 253 312 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 759 959 220 506 624;
  • 11) 0.000 000 759 959 220 506 624 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 001 519 918 441 013 248;
  • 12) 0.000 001 519 918 441 013 248 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 003 039 836 882 026 496;
  • 13) 0.000 003 039 836 882 026 496 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 006 079 673 764 052 992;
  • 14) 0.000 006 079 673 764 052 992 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 012 159 347 528 105 984;
  • 15) 0.000 012 159 347 528 105 984 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 024 318 695 056 211 968;
  • 16) 0.000 024 318 695 056 211 968 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 048 637 390 112 423 936;
  • 17) 0.000 048 637 390 112 423 936 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 097 274 780 224 847 872;
  • 18) 0.000 097 274 780 224 847 872 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 194 549 560 449 695 744;
  • 19) 0.000 194 549 560 449 695 744 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 389 099 120 899 391 488;
  • 20) 0.000 389 099 120 899 391 488 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 778 198 241 798 782 976;
  • 21) 0.000 778 198 241 798 782 976 × 2 = 0 + 0.001 556 396 483 597 565 952;
  • 22) 0.001 556 396 483 597 565 952 × 2 = 0 + 0.003 112 792 967 195 131 904;
  • 23) 0.003 112 792 967 195 131 904 × 2 = 0 + 0.006 225 585 934 390 263 808;
  • 24) 0.006 225 585 934 390 263 808 × 2 = 0 + 0.012 451 171 868 780 527 616;
  • 25) 0.012 451 171 868 780 527 616 × 2 = 0 + 0.024 902 343 737 561 055 232;
  • 26) 0.024 902 343 737 561 055 232 × 2 = 0 + 0.049 804 687 475 122 110 464;
  • 27) 0.049 804 687 475 122 110 464 × 2 = 0 + 0.099 609 374 950 244 220 928;
  • 28) 0.099 609 374 950 244 220 928 × 2 = 0 + 0.199 218 749 900 488 441 856;
  • 29) 0.199 218 749 900 488 441 856 × 2 = 0 + 0.398 437 499 800 976 883 712;
  • 30) 0.398 437 499 800 976 883 712 × 2 = 0 + 0.796 874 999 601 953 767 424;
  • 31) 0.796 874 999 601 953 767 424 × 2 = 1 + 0.593 749 999 203 907 534 848;
  • 32) 0.593 749 999 203 907 534 848 × 2 = 1 + 0.187 499 998 407 815 069 696;
  • 33) 0.187 499 998 407 815 069 696 × 2 = 0 + 0.374 999 996 815 630 139 392;
  • 34) 0.374 999 996 815 630 139 392 × 2 = 0 + 0.749 999 993 631 260 278 784;
  • 35) 0.749 999 993 631 260 278 784 × 2 = 1 + 0.499 999 987 262 520 557 568;
  • 36) 0.499 999 987 262 520 557 568 × 2 = 0 + 0.999 999 974 525 041 115 136;
  • 37) 0.999 999 974 525 041 115 136 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 949 050 082 230 272;
  • 38) 0.999 999 949 050 082 230 272 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 898 100 164 460 544;
  • 39) 0.999 999 898 100 164 460 544 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 796 200 328 921 088;
  • 40) 0.999 999 796 200 328 921 088 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 592 400 657 842 176;
  • 41) 0.999 999 592 400 657 842 176 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 184 801 315 684 352;
  • 42) 0.999 999 184 801 315 684 352 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 998 369 602 631 368 704;
  • 43) 0.999 998 369 602 631 368 704 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 996 739 205 262 737 408;
  • 44) 0.999 996 739 205 262 737 408 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 993 478 410 525 474 816;
  • 45) 0.999 993 478 410 525 474 816 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 986 956 821 050 949 632;
  • 46) 0.999 986 956 821 050 949 632 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 973 913 642 101 899 264;
  • 47) 0.999 973 913 642 101 899 264 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 947 827 284 203 798 528;
  • 48) 0.999 947 827 284 203 798 528 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 895 654 568 407 597 056;
  • 49) 0.999 895 654 568 407 597 056 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 791 309 136 815 194 112;
  • 50) 0.999 791 309 136 815 194 112 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 582 618 273 630 388 224;
  • 51) 0.999 582 618 273 630 388 224 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 165 236 547 260 776 448;
  • 52) 0.999 165 236 547 260 776 448 × 2 = 1 + 0.998 330 473 094 521 552 896;
  • 53) 0.998 330 473 094 521 552 896 × 2 = 1 + 0.996 660 946 189 043 105 792;
  • 54) 0.996 660 946 189 043 105 792 × 2 = 1 + 0.993 321 892 378 086 211 584;

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:


0.000 000 000 742 147 676 276(10) =


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

6. Positive number before normalization:

0.000 000 000 742 147 676 276(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:


0.000 000 000 742 147 676 276(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 -0.000 000 000 742 147 676 276 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