-0.041 858 53 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal -0.041 858 53(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
-0.041 858 53(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:

|-0.041 858 53| = 0.041 858 53


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: 0.041 858 53.

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) 0.041 858 53 × 2 = 0 + 0.083 717 06;
  • 2) 0.083 717 06 × 2 = 0 + 0.167 434 12;
  • 3) 0.167 434 12 × 2 = 0 + 0.334 868 24;
  • 4) 0.334 868 24 × 2 = 0 + 0.669 736 48;
  • 5) 0.669 736 48 × 2 = 1 + 0.339 472 96;
  • 6) 0.339 472 96 × 2 = 0 + 0.678 945 92;
  • 7) 0.678 945 92 × 2 = 1 + 0.357 891 84;
  • 8) 0.357 891 84 × 2 = 0 + 0.715 783 68;
  • 9) 0.715 783 68 × 2 = 1 + 0.431 567 36;
  • 10) 0.431 567 36 × 2 = 0 + 0.863 134 72;
  • 11) 0.863 134 72 × 2 = 1 + 0.726 269 44;
  • 12) 0.726 269 44 × 2 = 1 + 0.452 538 88;
  • 13) 0.452 538 88 × 2 = 0 + 0.905 077 76;
  • 14) 0.905 077 76 × 2 = 1 + 0.810 155 52;
  • 15) 0.810 155 52 × 2 = 1 + 0.620 311 04;
  • 16) 0.620 311 04 × 2 = 1 + 0.240 622 08;
  • 17) 0.240 622 08 × 2 = 0 + 0.481 244 16;
  • 18) 0.481 244 16 × 2 = 0 + 0.962 488 32;
  • 19) 0.962 488 32 × 2 = 1 + 0.924 976 64;
  • 20) 0.924 976 64 × 2 = 1 + 0.849 953 28;
  • 21) 0.849 953 28 × 2 = 1 + 0.699 906 56;
  • 22) 0.699 906 56 × 2 = 1 + 0.399 813 12;
  • 23) 0.399 813 12 × 2 = 0 + 0.799 626 24;
  • 24) 0.799 626 24 × 2 = 1 + 0.599 252 48;
  • 25) 0.599 252 48 × 2 = 1 + 0.198 504 96;
  • 26) 0.198 504 96 × 2 = 0 + 0.397 009 92;
  • 27) 0.397 009 92 × 2 = 0 + 0.794 019 84;
  • 28) 0.794 019 84 × 2 = 1 + 0.588 039 68;

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:


0.041 858 53(10) =

0.0000 1010 1011 0111 0011 1101 1001(2)

6. Positive number before normalization:

0.041 858 53(10) =

0.0000 1010 1011 0111 0011 1101 1001(2)

7. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 5 positions to the right, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


0.041 858 53(10) =

0.0000 1010 1011 0111 0011 1101 1001(2) =

0.0000 1010 1011 0111 0011 1101 1001(2) × 20 =

1.0101 0110 1110 0111 1011 001(2) × 2-5


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): -5

Mantissa (not normalized):
1.0101 0110 1110 0111 1011 001


9. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 8 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =

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

-5 + 2(8-1) - 1 =

(-5 + 127)(10) =

122(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;
  • 122 ÷ 2 = 61 + 0;
  • 61 ÷ 2 = 30 + 1;
  • 30 ÷ 2 = 15 + 0;
  • 15 ÷ 2 = 7 + 1;
  • 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) =

122(10) =

0111 1010(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. 010 1011 0111 0011 1101 1001 =

010 1011 0111 0011 1101 1001


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 1010

Mantissa (23 bits) =
010 1011 0111 0011 1101 1001


Decimal number -0.041 858 53 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

1 - 0111 1010 - 010 1011 0111 0011 1101 1001

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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