-0.000 243 16 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal -0.000 243 16(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
-0.000 243 16(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:

|-0.000 243 16| = 0.000 243 16


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: 0.000 243 16.

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) 0.000 243 16 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 486 32;
  • 2) 0.000 486 32 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 972 64;
  • 3) 0.000 972 64 × 2 = 0 + 0.001 945 28;
  • 4) 0.001 945 28 × 2 = 0 + 0.003 890 56;
  • 5) 0.003 890 56 × 2 = 0 + 0.007 781 12;
  • 6) 0.007 781 12 × 2 = 0 + 0.015 562 24;
  • 7) 0.015 562 24 × 2 = 0 + 0.031 124 48;
  • 8) 0.031 124 48 × 2 = 0 + 0.062 248 96;
  • 9) 0.062 248 96 × 2 = 0 + 0.124 497 92;
  • 10) 0.124 497 92 × 2 = 0 + 0.248 995 84;
  • 11) 0.248 995 84 × 2 = 0 + 0.497 991 68;
  • 12) 0.497 991 68 × 2 = 0 + 0.995 983 36;
  • 13) 0.995 983 36 × 2 = 1 + 0.991 966 72;
  • 14) 0.991 966 72 × 2 = 1 + 0.983 933 44;
  • 15) 0.983 933 44 × 2 = 1 + 0.967 866 88;
  • 16) 0.967 866 88 × 2 = 1 + 0.935 733 76;
  • 17) 0.935 733 76 × 2 = 1 + 0.871 467 52;
  • 18) 0.871 467 52 × 2 = 1 + 0.742 935 04;
  • 19) 0.742 935 04 × 2 = 1 + 0.485 870 08;
  • 20) 0.485 870 08 × 2 = 0 + 0.971 740 16;
  • 21) 0.971 740 16 × 2 = 1 + 0.943 480 32;
  • 22) 0.943 480 32 × 2 = 1 + 0.886 960 64;
  • 23) 0.886 960 64 × 2 = 1 + 0.773 921 28;
  • 24) 0.773 921 28 × 2 = 1 + 0.547 842 56;
  • 25) 0.547 842 56 × 2 = 1 + 0.095 685 12;
  • 26) 0.095 685 12 × 2 = 0 + 0.191 370 24;
  • 27) 0.191 370 24 × 2 = 0 + 0.382 740 48;
  • 28) 0.382 740 48 × 2 = 0 + 0.765 480 96;
  • 29) 0.765 480 96 × 2 = 1 + 0.530 961 92;
  • 30) 0.530 961 92 × 2 = 1 + 0.061 923 84;
  • 31) 0.061 923 84 × 2 = 0 + 0.123 847 68;
  • 32) 0.123 847 68 × 2 = 0 + 0.247 695 36;
  • 33) 0.247 695 36 × 2 = 0 + 0.495 390 72;
  • 34) 0.495 390 72 × 2 = 0 + 0.990 781 44;
  • 35) 0.990 781 44 × 2 = 1 + 0.981 562 88;
  • 36) 0.981 562 88 × 2 = 1 + 0.963 125 76;

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:


0.000 243 16(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 1111 1110 1111 1000 1100 0011(2)

6. Positive number before normalization:

0.000 243 16(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 1111 1110 1111 1000 1100 0011(2)

7. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 13 positions to the right, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


0.000 243 16(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 1111 1110 1111 1000 1100 0011(2) =


0.0000 0000 0000 1111 1110 1111 1000 1100 0011(2) × 20 =


1.1111 1101 1111 0001 1000 011(2) × 2-13


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): -13


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.1111 1101 1111 0001 1000 011


9. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 8 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


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


-13 + 2(8-1) - 1 =


(-13 + 127)(10) =


114(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;
  • 114 ÷ 2 = 57 + 0;
  • 57 ÷ 2 = 28 + 1;
  • 28 ÷ 2 = 14 + 0;
  • 14 ÷ 2 = 7 + 0;
  • 7 ÷ 2 = 3 + 1;
  • 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) =


114(10) =


0111 0010(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. 111 1110 1111 1000 1100 0011 =


111 1110 1111 1000 1100 0011


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) =
0111 0010


Mantissa (23 bits) =
111 1110 1111 1000 1100 0011


Decimal number -0.000 243 16 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

1 - 0111 0010 - 111 1110 1111 1000 1100 0011


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