0.000 002 94 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal 0.000 002 94(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 94(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 94.

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 94 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 005 88;
  • 2) 0.000 005 88 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 011 76;
  • 3) 0.000 011 76 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 023 52;
  • 4) 0.000 023 52 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 047 04;
  • 5) 0.000 047 04 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 094 08;
  • 6) 0.000 094 08 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 188 16;
  • 7) 0.000 188 16 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 376 32;
  • 8) 0.000 376 32 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 752 64;
  • 9) 0.000 752 64 × 2 = 0 + 0.001 505 28;
  • 10) 0.001 505 28 × 2 = 0 + 0.003 010 56;
  • 11) 0.003 010 56 × 2 = 0 + 0.006 021 12;
  • 12) 0.006 021 12 × 2 = 0 + 0.012 042 24;
  • 13) 0.012 042 24 × 2 = 0 + 0.024 084 48;
  • 14) 0.024 084 48 × 2 = 0 + 0.048 168 96;
  • 15) 0.048 168 96 × 2 = 0 + 0.096 337 92;
  • 16) 0.096 337 92 × 2 = 0 + 0.192 675 84;
  • 17) 0.192 675 84 × 2 = 0 + 0.385 351 68;
  • 18) 0.385 351 68 × 2 = 0 + 0.770 703 36;
  • 19) 0.770 703 36 × 2 = 1 + 0.541 406 72;
  • 20) 0.541 406 72 × 2 = 1 + 0.082 813 44;
  • 21) 0.082 813 44 × 2 = 0 + 0.165 626 88;
  • 22) 0.165 626 88 × 2 = 0 + 0.331 253 76;
  • 23) 0.331 253 76 × 2 = 0 + 0.662 507 52;
  • 24) 0.662 507 52 × 2 = 1 + 0.325 015 04;
  • 25) 0.325 015 04 × 2 = 0 + 0.650 030 08;
  • 26) 0.650 030 08 × 2 = 1 + 0.300 060 16;
  • 27) 0.300 060 16 × 2 = 0 + 0.600 120 32;
  • 28) 0.600 120 32 × 2 = 1 + 0.200 240 64;
  • 29) 0.200 240 64 × 2 = 0 + 0.400 481 28;
  • 30) 0.400 481 28 × 2 = 0 + 0.800 962 56;
  • 31) 0.800 962 56 × 2 = 1 + 0.601 925 12;
  • 32) 0.601 925 12 × 2 = 1 + 0.203 850 24;
  • 33) 0.203 850 24 × 2 = 0 + 0.407 700 48;
  • 34) 0.407 700 48 × 2 = 0 + 0.815 400 96;
  • 35) 0.815 400 96 × 2 = 1 + 0.630 801 92;
  • 36) 0.630 801 92 × 2 = 1 + 0.261 603 84;
  • 37) 0.261 603 84 × 2 = 0 + 0.523 207 68;
  • 38) 0.523 207 68 × 2 = 1 + 0.046 415 36;
  • 39) 0.046 415 36 × 2 = 0 + 0.092 830 72;
  • 40) 0.092 830 72 × 2 = 0 + 0.185 661 44;
  • 41) 0.185 661 44 × 2 = 0 + 0.371 322 88;
  • 42) 0.371 322 88 × 2 = 0 + 0.742 645 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).


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 94(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0011 0001 0101 0011 0011 0100 00(2)

5. Positive number before normalization:

0.000 002 94(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0011 0001 0101 0011 0011 0100 00(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 94(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0011 0001 0101 0011 0011 0100 00(2) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0011 0001 0101 0011 0011 0100 00(2) × 20 =


1.1000 1010 1001 1001 1010 000(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):
1.1000 1010 1001 1001 1010 000


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. 100 0101 0100 1100 1101 0000 =


100 0101 0100 1100 1101 0000


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) =
100 0101 0100 1100 1101 0000


Decimal number 0.000 002 94 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

0 - 0110 1100 - 100 0101 0100 1100 1101 0000


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