0.000 002 23 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal 0.000 002 23(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
0.000 002 23(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. 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;

2. 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)


3. Convert to binary (base 2) the fractional part: 0.000 002 23.

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) 0.000 002 23 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 004 46;
  • 2) 0.000 004 46 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 008 92;
  • 3) 0.000 008 92 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 017 84;
  • 4) 0.000 017 84 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 035 68;
  • 5) 0.000 035 68 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 071 36;
  • 6) 0.000 071 36 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 142 72;
  • 7) 0.000 142 72 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 285 44;
  • 8) 0.000 285 44 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 570 88;
  • 9) 0.000 570 88 × 2 = 0 + 0.001 141 76;
  • 10) 0.001 141 76 × 2 = 0 + 0.002 283 52;
  • 11) 0.002 283 52 × 2 = 0 + 0.004 567 04;
  • 12) 0.004 567 04 × 2 = 0 + 0.009 134 08;
  • 13) 0.009 134 08 × 2 = 0 + 0.018 268 16;
  • 14) 0.018 268 16 × 2 = 0 + 0.036 536 32;
  • 15) 0.036 536 32 × 2 = 0 + 0.073 072 64;
  • 16) 0.073 072 64 × 2 = 0 + 0.146 145 28;
  • 17) 0.146 145 28 × 2 = 0 + 0.292 290 56;
  • 18) 0.292 290 56 × 2 = 0 + 0.584 581 12;
  • 19) 0.584 581 12 × 2 = 1 + 0.169 162 24;
  • 20) 0.169 162 24 × 2 = 0 + 0.338 324 48;
  • 21) 0.338 324 48 × 2 = 0 + 0.676 648 96;
  • 22) 0.676 648 96 × 2 = 1 + 0.353 297 92;
  • 23) 0.353 297 92 × 2 = 0 + 0.706 595 84;
  • 24) 0.706 595 84 × 2 = 1 + 0.413 191 68;
  • 25) 0.413 191 68 × 2 = 0 + 0.826 383 36;
  • 26) 0.826 383 36 × 2 = 1 + 0.652 766 72;
  • 27) 0.652 766 72 × 2 = 1 + 0.305 533 44;
  • 28) 0.305 533 44 × 2 = 0 + 0.611 066 88;
  • 29) 0.611 066 88 × 2 = 1 + 0.222 133 76;
  • 30) 0.222 133 76 × 2 = 0 + 0.444 267 52;
  • 31) 0.444 267 52 × 2 = 0 + 0.888 535 04;
  • 32) 0.888 535 04 × 2 = 1 + 0.777 070 08;
  • 33) 0.777 070 08 × 2 = 1 + 0.554 140 16;
  • 34) 0.554 140 16 × 2 = 1 + 0.108 280 32;
  • 35) 0.108 280 32 × 2 = 0 + 0.216 560 64;
  • 36) 0.216 560 64 × 2 = 0 + 0.433 121 28;
  • 37) 0.433 121 28 × 2 = 0 + 0.866 242 56;
  • 38) 0.866 242 56 × 2 = 1 + 0.732 485 12;
  • 39) 0.732 485 12 × 2 = 1 + 0.464 970 24;
  • 40) 0.464 970 24 × 2 = 0 + 0.929 940 48;
  • 41) 0.929 940 48 × 2 = 1 + 0.859 880 96;
  • 42) 0.859 880 96 × 2 = 1 + 0.719 761 92;

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).


4. 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:


0.000 002 23(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0010 0101 0110 1001 1100 0110 11(2)

5. Positive number before normalization:

0.000 002 23(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0010 0101 0110 1001 1100 0110 11(2)

6. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 19 positions to the right, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


0.000 002 23(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0010 0101 0110 1001 1100 0110 11(2) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0010 0101 0110 1001 1100 0110 11(2) × 20 =


1.0010 1011 0100 1110 0011 011(2) × 2-19


7. 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 0 (a positive number)


Exponent (unadjusted): -19


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.0010 1011 0100 1110 0011 011


8. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 8 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


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


-19 + 2(8-1) - 1 =


(-19 + 127)(10) =


108(10)


9. 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;
  • 108 ÷ 2 = 54 + 0;
  • 54 ÷ 2 = 27 + 0;
  • 27 ÷ 2 = 13 + 1;
  • 13 ÷ 2 = 6 + 1;
  • 6 ÷ 2 = 3 + 0;
  • 3 ÷ 2 = 1 + 1;
  • 1 ÷ 2 = 0 + 1;

10. Construct the base 2 representation of the adjusted exponent.

Take all the remainders starting from the bottom of the list constructed above.


Exponent (adjusted) =


108(10) =


0110 1100(2)


11. 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. 001 0101 1010 0111 0001 1011 =


001 0101 1010 0111 0001 1011


12. The three elements that make up the number's 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

Sign (1 bit) =
0 (a positive number)


Exponent (8 bits) =
0110 1100


Mantissa (23 bits) =
001 0101 1010 0111 0001 1011


Decimal number 0.000 002 23 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

0 - 0110 1100 - 001 0101 1010 0111 0001 1011


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