0.000 040 7 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal 0.000 040 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
0.000 040 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. 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: 0.000 040 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) 0.000 040 7 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 081 4;
  • 2) 0.000 081 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 162 8;
  • 3) 0.000 162 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 325 6;
  • 4) 0.000 325 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 651 2;
  • 5) 0.000 651 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.001 302 4;
  • 6) 0.001 302 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.002 604 8;
  • 7) 0.002 604 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.005 209 6;
  • 8) 0.005 209 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.010 419 2;
  • 9) 0.010 419 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.020 838 4;
  • 10) 0.020 838 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.041 676 8;
  • 11) 0.041 676 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.083 353 6;
  • 12) 0.083 353 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.166 707 2;
  • 13) 0.166 707 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.333 414 4;
  • 14) 0.333 414 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 828 8;
  • 15) 0.666 828 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 657 6;
  • 16) 0.333 657 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.667 315 2;
  • 17) 0.667 315 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.334 630 4;
  • 18) 0.334 630 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.669 260 8;
  • 19) 0.669 260 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.338 521 6;
  • 20) 0.338 521 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.677 043 2;
  • 21) 0.677 043 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.354 086 4;
  • 22) 0.354 086 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.708 172 8;
  • 23) 0.708 172 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.416 345 6;
  • 24) 0.416 345 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.832 691 2;
  • 25) 0.832 691 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.665 382 4;
  • 26) 0.665 382 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.330 764 8;
  • 27) 0.330 764 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.661 529 6;
  • 28) 0.661 529 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.323 059 2;
  • 29) 0.323 059 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.646 118 4;
  • 30) 0.646 118 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.292 236 8;
  • 31) 0.292 236 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.584 473 6;
  • 32) 0.584 473 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.168 947 2;
  • 33) 0.168 947 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.337 894 4;
  • 34) 0.337 894 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.675 788 8;
  • 35) 0.675 788 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.351 577 6;
  • 36) 0.351 577 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.703 155 2;
  • 37) 0.703 155 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.406 310 4;
  • 38) 0.406 310 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.812 620 8;

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:


0.000 040 7(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0010 1010 1010 1101 0101 0010 10(2)

5. Positive number before normalization:

0.000 040 7(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0010 1010 1010 1101 0101 0010 10(2)

6. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 15 positions to the right, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


0.000 040 7(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0010 1010 1010 1101 0101 0010 10(2) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0010 1010 1010 1101 0101 0010 10(2) × 20 =


1.0101 0101 0110 1010 1001 010(2) × 2-15


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): -15


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.0101 0101 0110 1010 1001 010


8. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 8 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


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


-15 + 2(8-1) - 1 =


(-15 + 127)(10) =


112(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;
  • 112 ÷ 2 = 56 + 0;
  • 56 ÷ 2 = 28 + 0;
  • 28 ÷ 2 = 14 + 0;
  • 14 ÷ 2 = 7 + 0;
  • 7 ÷ 2 = 3 + 1;
  • 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) =


112(10) =


0111 0000(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. 010 1010 1011 0101 0100 1010 =


010 1010 1011 0101 0100 1010


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) =
0111 0000


Mantissa (23 bits) =
010 1010 1011 0101 0100 1010


Decimal number 0.000 040 7 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

0 - 0111 0000 - 010 1010 1011 0101 0100 1010


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