-532.234 275 078 342 298 7 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal -532.234 275 078 342 298 7(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
-532.234 275 078 342 298 7(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:

|-532.234 275 078 342 298 7| = 532.234 275 078 342 298 7


2. First, convert to binary (in base 2) the integer part: 532.
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;
  • 532 ÷ 2 = 266 + 0;
  • 266 ÷ 2 = 133 + 0;
  • 133 ÷ 2 = 66 + 1;
  • 66 ÷ 2 = 33 + 0;
  • 33 ÷ 2 = 16 + 1;
  • 16 ÷ 2 = 8 + 0;
  • 8 ÷ 2 = 4 + 0;
  • 4 ÷ 2 = 2 + 0;
  • 2 ÷ 2 = 1 + 0;
  • 1 ÷ 2 = 0 + 1;

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.

532(10) =


10 0001 0100(2)


4. Convert to binary (base 2) the fractional part: 0.234 275 078 342 298 7.

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) 0.234 275 078 342 298 7 × 2 = 0 + 0.468 550 156 684 597 4;
  • 2) 0.468 550 156 684 597 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.937 100 313 369 194 8;
  • 3) 0.937 100 313 369 194 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.874 200 626 738 389 6;
  • 4) 0.874 200 626 738 389 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.748 401 253 476 779 2;
  • 5) 0.748 401 253 476 779 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.496 802 506 953 558 4;
  • 6) 0.496 802 506 953 558 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.993 605 013 907 116 8;
  • 7) 0.993 605 013 907 116 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.987 210 027 814 233 6;
  • 8) 0.987 210 027 814 233 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.974 420 055 628 467 2;
  • 9) 0.974 420 055 628 467 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.948 840 111 256 934 4;
  • 10) 0.948 840 111 256 934 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.897 680 222 513 868 8;
  • 11) 0.897 680 222 513 868 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.795 360 445 027 737 6;
  • 12) 0.795 360 445 027 737 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.590 720 890 055 475 2;
  • 13) 0.590 720 890 055 475 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.181 441 780 110 950 4;
  • 14) 0.181 441 780 110 950 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.362 883 560 221 900 8;
  • 15) 0.362 883 560 221 900 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.725 767 120 443 801 6;
  • 16) 0.725 767 120 443 801 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.451 534 240 887 603 2;
  • 17) 0.451 534 240 887 603 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.903 068 481 775 206 4;
  • 18) 0.903 068 481 775 206 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.806 136 963 550 412 8;
  • 19) 0.806 136 963 550 412 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.612 273 927 100 825 6;
  • 20) 0.612 273 927 100 825 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.224 547 854 201 651 2;
  • 21) 0.224 547 854 201 651 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.449 095 708 403 302 4;
  • 22) 0.449 095 708 403 302 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.898 191 416 806 604 8;
  • 23) 0.898 191 416 806 604 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.796 382 833 613 209 6;
  • 24) 0.796 382 833 613 209 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.592 765 667 226 419 2;

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:


0.234 275 078 342 298 7(10) =


0.0011 1011 1111 1001 0111 0011(2)

6. Positive number before normalization:

532.234 275 078 342 298 7(10) =


10 0001 0100.0011 1011 1111 1001 0111 0011(2)

7. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 9 positions to the left, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


532.234 275 078 342 298 7(10) =


10 0001 0100.0011 1011 1111 1001 0111 0011(2) =


10 0001 0100.0011 1011 1111 1001 0111 0011(2) × 20 =


1.0000 1010 0001 1101 1111 1100 1011 1001 1(2) × 29


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): 9


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.0000 1010 0001 1101 1111 1100 1011 1001 1


9. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 8 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


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


9 + 2(8-1) - 1 =


(9 + 127)(10) =


136(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;
  • 136 ÷ 2 = 68 + 0;
  • 68 ÷ 2 = 34 + 0;
  • 34 ÷ 2 = 17 + 0;
  • 17 ÷ 2 = 8 + 1;
  • 8 ÷ 2 = 4 + 0;
  • 4 ÷ 2 = 2 + 0;
  • 2 ÷ 2 = 1 + 0;
  • 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) =


136(10) =


1000 1000(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, by removing the excess bits, from the right (if any of the excess bits is set on 1, we are losing precision...).


Mantissa (normalized) =


1. 000 0101 0000 1110 1111 1110 01 0111 0011 =


000 0101 0000 1110 1111 1110


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) =
1000 1000


Mantissa (23 bits) =
000 0101 0000 1110 1111 1110


Decimal number -532.234 275 078 342 298 7 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

1 - 1000 1000 - 000 0101 0000 1110 1111 1110


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