-0.000 000 000 742 147 676 346 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal -0.000 000 000 742 147 676 346(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
-0.000 000 000 742 147 676 346(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:

|-0.000 000 000 742 147 676 346| = 0.000 000 000 742 147 676 346


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: 0.000 000 000 742 147 676 346.

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) 0.000 000 000 742 147 676 346 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 001 484 295 352 692;
  • 2) 0.000 000 001 484 295 352 692 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 002 968 590 705 384;
  • 3) 0.000 000 002 968 590 705 384 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 005 937 181 410 768;
  • 4) 0.000 000 005 937 181 410 768 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 011 874 362 821 536;
  • 5) 0.000 000 011 874 362 821 536 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 023 748 725 643 072;
  • 6) 0.000 000 023 748 725 643 072 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 047 497 451 286 144;
  • 7) 0.000 000 047 497 451 286 144 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 094 994 902 572 288;
  • 8) 0.000 000 094 994 902 572 288 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 189 989 805 144 576;
  • 9) 0.000 000 189 989 805 144 576 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 379 979 610 289 152;
  • 10) 0.000 000 379 979 610 289 152 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 000 759 959 220 578 304;
  • 11) 0.000 000 759 959 220 578 304 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 001 519 918 441 156 608;
  • 12) 0.000 001 519 918 441 156 608 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 003 039 836 882 313 216;
  • 13) 0.000 003 039 836 882 313 216 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 006 079 673 764 626 432;
  • 14) 0.000 006 079 673 764 626 432 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 012 159 347 529 252 864;
  • 15) 0.000 012 159 347 529 252 864 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 024 318 695 058 505 728;
  • 16) 0.000 024 318 695 058 505 728 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 048 637 390 117 011 456;
  • 17) 0.000 048 637 390 117 011 456 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 097 274 780 234 022 912;
  • 18) 0.000 097 274 780 234 022 912 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 194 549 560 468 045 824;
  • 19) 0.000 194 549 560 468 045 824 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 389 099 120 936 091 648;
  • 20) 0.000 389 099 120 936 091 648 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 778 198 241 872 183 296;
  • 21) 0.000 778 198 241 872 183 296 × 2 = 0 + 0.001 556 396 483 744 366 592;
  • 22) 0.001 556 396 483 744 366 592 × 2 = 0 + 0.003 112 792 967 488 733 184;
  • 23) 0.003 112 792 967 488 733 184 × 2 = 0 + 0.006 225 585 934 977 466 368;
  • 24) 0.006 225 585 934 977 466 368 × 2 = 0 + 0.012 451 171 869 954 932 736;
  • 25) 0.012 451 171 869 954 932 736 × 2 = 0 + 0.024 902 343 739 909 865 472;
  • 26) 0.024 902 343 739 909 865 472 × 2 = 0 + 0.049 804 687 479 819 730 944;
  • 27) 0.049 804 687 479 819 730 944 × 2 = 0 + 0.099 609 374 959 639 461 888;
  • 28) 0.099 609 374 959 639 461 888 × 2 = 0 + 0.199 218 749 919 278 923 776;
  • 29) 0.199 218 749 919 278 923 776 × 2 = 0 + 0.398 437 499 838 557 847 552;
  • 30) 0.398 437 499 838 557 847 552 × 2 = 0 + 0.796 874 999 677 115 695 104;
  • 31) 0.796 874 999 677 115 695 104 × 2 = 1 + 0.593 749 999 354 231 390 208;
  • 32) 0.593 749 999 354 231 390 208 × 2 = 1 + 0.187 499 998 708 462 780 416;
  • 33) 0.187 499 998 708 462 780 416 × 2 = 0 + 0.374 999 997 416 925 560 832;
  • 34) 0.374 999 997 416 925 560 832 × 2 = 0 + 0.749 999 994 833 851 121 664;
  • 35) 0.749 999 994 833 851 121 664 × 2 = 1 + 0.499 999 989 667 702 243 328;
  • 36) 0.499 999 989 667 702 243 328 × 2 = 0 + 0.999 999 979 335 404 486 656;
  • 37) 0.999 999 979 335 404 486 656 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 958 670 808 973 312;
  • 38) 0.999 999 958 670 808 973 312 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 917 341 617 946 624;
  • 39) 0.999 999 917 341 617 946 624 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 834 683 235 893 248;
  • 40) 0.999 999 834 683 235 893 248 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 669 366 471 786 496;
  • 41) 0.999 999 669 366 471 786 496 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 338 732 943 572 992;
  • 42) 0.999 999 338 732 943 572 992 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 998 677 465 887 145 984;
  • 43) 0.999 998 677 465 887 145 984 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 997 354 931 774 291 968;
  • 44) 0.999 997 354 931 774 291 968 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 994 709 863 548 583 936;
  • 45) 0.999 994 709 863 548 583 936 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 989 419 727 097 167 872;
  • 46) 0.999 989 419 727 097 167 872 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 978 839 454 194 335 744;
  • 47) 0.999 978 839 454 194 335 744 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 957 678 908 388 671 488;
  • 48) 0.999 957 678 908 388 671 488 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 915 357 816 777 342 976;
  • 49) 0.999 915 357 816 777 342 976 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 830 715 633 554 685 952;
  • 50) 0.999 830 715 633 554 685 952 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 661 431 267 109 371 904;
  • 51) 0.999 661 431 267 109 371 904 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 322 862 534 218 743 808;
  • 52) 0.999 322 862 534 218 743 808 × 2 = 1 + 0.998 645 725 068 437 487 616;
  • 53) 0.998 645 725 068 437 487 616 × 2 = 1 + 0.997 291 450 136 874 975 232;
  • 54) 0.997 291 450 136 874 975 232 × 2 = 1 + 0.994 582 900 273 749 950 464;

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:


0.000 000 000 742 147 676 346(10) =


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

6. Positive number before normalization:

0.000 000 000 742 147 676 346(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:


0.000 000 000 742 147 676 346(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 -0.000 000 000 742 147 676 346 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