0.000 055 7 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal 0.000 055 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
0.000 055 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: 0.000 055 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) 0.000 055 7 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 111 4;
  • 2) 0.000 111 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 222 8;
  • 3) 0.000 222 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 445 6;
  • 4) 0.000 445 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 891 2;
  • 5) 0.000 891 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.001 782 4;
  • 6) 0.001 782 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.003 564 8;
  • 7) 0.003 564 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.007 129 6;
  • 8) 0.007 129 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.014 259 2;
  • 9) 0.014 259 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.028 518 4;
  • 10) 0.028 518 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.057 036 8;
  • 11) 0.057 036 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.114 073 6;
  • 12) 0.114 073 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.228 147 2;
  • 13) 0.228 147 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.456 294 4;
  • 14) 0.456 294 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.912 588 8;
  • 15) 0.912 588 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.825 177 6;
  • 16) 0.825 177 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.650 355 2;
  • 17) 0.650 355 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.300 710 4;
  • 18) 0.300 710 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.601 420 8;
  • 19) 0.601 420 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.202 841 6;
  • 20) 0.202 841 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.405 683 2;
  • 21) 0.405 683 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.811 366 4;
  • 22) 0.811 366 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.622 732 8;
  • 23) 0.622 732 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.245 465 6;
  • 24) 0.245 465 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.490 931 2;
  • 25) 0.490 931 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.981 862 4;
  • 26) 0.981 862 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.963 724 8;
  • 27) 0.963 724 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.927 449 6;
  • 28) 0.927 449 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.854 899 2;
  • 29) 0.854 899 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.709 798 4;
  • 30) 0.709 798 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.419 596 8;
  • 31) 0.419 596 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.839 193 6;
  • 32) 0.839 193 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.678 387 2;
  • 33) 0.678 387 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.356 774 4;
  • 34) 0.356 774 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.713 548 8;
  • 35) 0.713 548 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.427 097 6;
  • 36) 0.427 097 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.854 195 2;
  • 37) 0.854 195 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.708 390 4;
  • 38) 0.708 390 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.416 780 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:


0.000 055 7(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0011 1010 0110 0111 1101 1010 11(2)

5. Positive number before normalization:

0.000 055 7(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0011 1010 0110 0111 1101 1010 11(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:


0.000 055 7(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0011 1010 0110 0111 1101 1010 11(2) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0011 1010 0110 0111 1101 1010 11(2) × 20 =


1.1101 0011 0011 1110 1101 011(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):
1.1101 0011 0011 1110 1101 011


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. 110 1001 1001 1111 0110 1011 =


110 1001 1001 1111 0110 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) =
0111 0000


Mantissa (23 bits) =
110 1001 1001 1111 0110 1011


Decimal number 0.000 055 7 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

0 - 0111 0000 - 110 1001 1001 1111 0110 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