0.000 023 8 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal 0.000 023 8(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
0.000 023 8(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: 0.000 023 8.

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) 0.000 023 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 047 6;
  • 2) 0.000 047 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 095 2;
  • 3) 0.000 095 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 190 4;
  • 4) 0.000 190 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 380 8;
  • 5) 0.000 380 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 761 6;
  • 6) 0.000 761 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.001 523 2;
  • 7) 0.001 523 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.003 046 4;
  • 8) 0.003 046 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.006 092 8;
  • 9) 0.006 092 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.012 185 6;
  • 10) 0.012 185 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.024 371 2;
  • 11) 0.024 371 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.048 742 4;
  • 12) 0.048 742 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.097 484 8;
  • 13) 0.097 484 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.194 969 6;
  • 14) 0.194 969 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.389 939 2;
  • 15) 0.389 939 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.779 878 4;
  • 16) 0.779 878 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.559 756 8;
  • 17) 0.559 756 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.119 513 6;
  • 18) 0.119 513 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.239 027 2;
  • 19) 0.239 027 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.478 054 4;
  • 20) 0.478 054 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.956 108 8;
  • 21) 0.956 108 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.912 217 6;
  • 22) 0.912 217 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.824 435 2;
  • 23) 0.824 435 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.648 870 4;
  • 24) 0.648 870 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.297 740 8;
  • 25) 0.297 740 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.595 481 6;
  • 26) 0.595 481 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.190 963 2;
  • 27) 0.190 963 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.381 926 4;
  • 28) 0.381 926 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.763 852 8;
  • 29) 0.763 852 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.527 705 6;
  • 30) 0.527 705 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.055 411 2;
  • 31) 0.055 411 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.110 822 4;
  • 32) 0.110 822 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.221 644 8;
  • 33) 0.221 644 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.443 289 6;
  • 34) 0.443 289 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.886 579 2;
  • 35) 0.886 579 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.773 158 4;
  • 36) 0.773 158 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.546 316 8;
  • 37) 0.546 316 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.092 633 6;
  • 38) 0.092 633 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.185 267 2;
  • 39) 0.185 267 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.370 534 4;

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:


0.000 023 8(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0001 1000 1111 0100 1100 0011 100(2)

5. Positive number before normalization:

0.000 023 8(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0001 1000 1111 0100 1100 0011 100(2)

6. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 16 positions to the right, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


0.000 023 8(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0001 1000 1111 0100 1100 0011 100(2) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0001 1000 1111 0100 1100 0011 100(2) × 20 =


1.1000 1111 0100 1100 0011 100(2) × 2-16


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): -16


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.1000 1111 0100 1100 0011 100


8. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 8 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


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


-16 + 2(8-1) - 1 =


(-16 + 127)(10) =


111(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;
  • 111 ÷ 2 = 55 + 1;
  • 55 ÷ 2 = 27 + 1;
  • 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) =


111(10) =


0110 1111(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 0111 1010 0110 0001 1100 =


100 0111 1010 0110 0001 1100


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 1111


Mantissa (23 bits) =
100 0111 1010 0110 0001 1100


Decimal number 0.000 023 8 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

0 - 0110 1111 - 100 0111 1010 0110 0001 1100


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