0.000 004 09 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal 0.000 004 09(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
0.000 004 09(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: 0.000 004 09.

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) 0.000 004 09 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 008 18;
  • 2) 0.000 008 18 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 016 36;
  • 3) 0.000 016 36 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 032 72;
  • 4) 0.000 032 72 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 065 44;
  • 5) 0.000 065 44 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 130 88;
  • 6) 0.000 130 88 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 261 76;
  • 7) 0.000 261 76 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 523 52;
  • 8) 0.000 523 52 × 2 = 0 + 0.001 047 04;
  • 9) 0.001 047 04 × 2 = 0 + 0.002 094 08;
  • 10) 0.002 094 08 × 2 = 0 + 0.004 188 16;
  • 11) 0.004 188 16 × 2 = 0 + 0.008 376 32;
  • 12) 0.008 376 32 × 2 = 0 + 0.016 752 64;
  • 13) 0.016 752 64 × 2 = 0 + 0.033 505 28;
  • 14) 0.033 505 28 × 2 = 0 + 0.067 010 56;
  • 15) 0.067 010 56 × 2 = 0 + 0.134 021 12;
  • 16) 0.134 021 12 × 2 = 0 + 0.268 042 24;
  • 17) 0.268 042 24 × 2 = 0 + 0.536 084 48;
  • 18) 0.536 084 48 × 2 = 1 + 0.072 168 96;
  • 19) 0.072 168 96 × 2 = 0 + 0.144 337 92;
  • 20) 0.144 337 92 × 2 = 0 + 0.288 675 84;
  • 21) 0.288 675 84 × 2 = 0 + 0.577 351 68;
  • 22) 0.577 351 68 × 2 = 1 + 0.154 703 36;
  • 23) 0.154 703 36 × 2 = 0 + 0.309 406 72;
  • 24) 0.309 406 72 × 2 = 0 + 0.618 813 44;
  • 25) 0.618 813 44 × 2 = 1 + 0.237 626 88;
  • 26) 0.237 626 88 × 2 = 0 + 0.475 253 76;
  • 27) 0.475 253 76 × 2 = 0 + 0.950 507 52;
  • 28) 0.950 507 52 × 2 = 1 + 0.901 015 04;
  • 29) 0.901 015 04 × 2 = 1 + 0.802 030 08;
  • 30) 0.802 030 08 × 2 = 1 + 0.604 060 16;
  • 31) 0.604 060 16 × 2 = 1 + 0.208 120 32;
  • 32) 0.208 120 32 × 2 = 0 + 0.416 240 64;
  • 33) 0.416 240 64 × 2 = 0 + 0.832 481 28;
  • 34) 0.832 481 28 × 2 = 1 + 0.664 962 56;
  • 35) 0.664 962 56 × 2 = 1 + 0.329 925 12;
  • 36) 0.329 925 12 × 2 = 0 + 0.659 850 24;
  • 37) 0.659 850 24 × 2 = 1 + 0.319 700 48;
  • 38) 0.319 700 48 × 2 = 0 + 0.639 400 96;
  • 39) 0.639 400 96 × 2 = 1 + 0.278 801 92;
  • 40) 0.278 801 92 × 2 = 0 + 0.557 603 84;
  • 41) 0.557 603 84 × 2 = 1 + 0.115 207 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).


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:


0.000 004 09(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0100 0100 1001 1110 0110 1010 1(2)

5. Positive number before normalization:

0.000 004 09(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0100 0100 1001 1110 0110 1010 1(2)

6. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 18 positions to the right, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


0.000 004 09(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0100 0100 1001 1110 0110 1010 1(2) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0000 0100 0100 1001 1110 0110 1010 1(2) × 20 =


1.0001 0010 0111 1001 1010 101(2) × 2-18


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): -18


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.0001 0010 0111 1001 1010 101


8. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 8 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


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


-18 + 2(8-1) - 1 =


(-18 + 127)(10) =


109(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;
  • 109 ÷ 2 = 54 + 1;
  • 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) =


109(10) =


0110 1101(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. 000 1001 0011 1100 1101 0101 =


000 1001 0011 1100 1101 0101


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 1101


Mantissa (23 bits) =
000 1001 0011 1100 1101 0101


Decimal number 0.000 004 09 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

0 - 0110 1101 - 000 1001 0011 1100 1101 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