-0.000 244 416 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal -0.000 244 416(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
-0.000 244 416(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:

|-0.000 244 416| = 0.000 244 416


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: 0.000 244 416.

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) 0.000 244 416 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 488 832;
  • 2) 0.000 488 832 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 977 664;
  • 3) 0.000 977 664 × 2 = 0 + 0.001 955 328;
  • 4) 0.001 955 328 × 2 = 0 + 0.003 910 656;
  • 5) 0.003 910 656 × 2 = 0 + 0.007 821 312;
  • 6) 0.007 821 312 × 2 = 0 + 0.015 642 624;
  • 7) 0.015 642 624 × 2 = 0 + 0.031 285 248;
  • 8) 0.031 285 248 × 2 = 0 + 0.062 570 496;
  • 9) 0.062 570 496 × 2 = 0 + 0.125 140 992;
  • 10) 0.125 140 992 × 2 = 0 + 0.250 281 984;
  • 11) 0.250 281 984 × 2 = 0 + 0.500 563 968;
  • 12) 0.500 563 968 × 2 = 1 + 0.001 127 936;
  • 13) 0.001 127 936 × 2 = 0 + 0.002 255 872;
  • 14) 0.002 255 872 × 2 = 0 + 0.004 511 744;
  • 15) 0.004 511 744 × 2 = 0 + 0.009 023 488;
  • 16) 0.009 023 488 × 2 = 0 + 0.018 046 976;
  • 17) 0.018 046 976 × 2 = 0 + 0.036 093 952;
  • 18) 0.036 093 952 × 2 = 0 + 0.072 187 904;
  • 19) 0.072 187 904 × 2 = 0 + 0.144 375 808;
  • 20) 0.144 375 808 × 2 = 0 + 0.288 751 616;
  • 21) 0.288 751 616 × 2 = 0 + 0.577 503 232;
  • 22) 0.577 503 232 × 2 = 1 + 0.155 006 464;
  • 23) 0.155 006 464 × 2 = 0 + 0.310 012 928;
  • 24) 0.310 012 928 × 2 = 0 + 0.620 025 856;
  • 25) 0.620 025 856 × 2 = 1 + 0.240 051 712;
  • 26) 0.240 051 712 × 2 = 0 + 0.480 103 424;
  • 27) 0.480 103 424 × 2 = 0 + 0.960 206 848;
  • 28) 0.960 206 848 × 2 = 1 + 0.920 413 696;
  • 29) 0.920 413 696 × 2 = 1 + 0.840 827 392;
  • 30) 0.840 827 392 × 2 = 1 + 0.681 654 784;
  • 31) 0.681 654 784 × 2 = 1 + 0.363 309 568;
  • 32) 0.363 309 568 × 2 = 0 + 0.726 619 136;
  • 33) 0.726 619 136 × 2 = 1 + 0.453 238 272;
  • 34) 0.453 238 272 × 2 = 0 + 0.906 476 544;
  • 35) 0.906 476 544 × 2 = 1 + 0.812 953 088;

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:


0.000 244 416(10) =


0.0000 0000 0001 0000 0000 0100 1001 1110 101(2)

6. Positive number before normalization:

0.000 244 416(10) =


0.0000 0000 0001 0000 0000 0100 1001 1110 101(2)

7. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 12 positions to the right, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


0.000 244 416(10) =


0.0000 0000 0001 0000 0000 0100 1001 1110 101(2) =


0.0000 0000 0001 0000 0000 0100 1001 1110 101(2) × 20 =


1.0000 0000 0100 1001 1110 101(2) × 2-12


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): -12


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.0000 0000 0100 1001 1110 101


9. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 8 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


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


-12 + 2(8-1) - 1 =


(-12 + 127)(10) =


115(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;
  • 115 ÷ 2 = 57 + 1;
  • 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) =


115(10) =


0111 0011(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. 000 0000 0010 0100 1111 0101 =


000 0000 0010 0100 1111 0101


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 0011


Mantissa (23 bits) =
000 0000 0010 0100 1111 0101


Decimal number -0.000 244 416 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

1 - 0111 0011 - 000 0000 0010 0100 1111 0101


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