0.000 066 3 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal 0.000 066 3(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
0.000 066 3(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: 0.000 066 3.

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) 0.000 066 3 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 132 6;
  • 2) 0.000 132 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 265 2;
  • 3) 0.000 265 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 530 4;
  • 4) 0.000 530 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.001 060 8;
  • 5) 0.001 060 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.002 121 6;
  • 6) 0.002 121 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.004 243 2;
  • 7) 0.004 243 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.008 486 4;
  • 8) 0.008 486 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.016 972 8;
  • 9) 0.016 972 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.033 945 6;
  • 10) 0.033 945 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.067 891 2;
  • 11) 0.067 891 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.135 782 4;
  • 12) 0.135 782 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.271 564 8;
  • 13) 0.271 564 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.543 129 6;
  • 14) 0.543 129 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.086 259 2;
  • 15) 0.086 259 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.172 518 4;
  • 16) 0.172 518 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.345 036 8;
  • 17) 0.345 036 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.690 073 6;
  • 18) 0.690 073 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.380 147 2;
  • 19) 0.380 147 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.760 294 4;
  • 20) 0.760 294 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.520 588 8;
  • 21) 0.520 588 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.041 177 6;
  • 22) 0.041 177 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.082 355 2;
  • 23) 0.082 355 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.164 710 4;
  • 24) 0.164 710 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.329 420 8;
  • 25) 0.329 420 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.658 841 6;
  • 26) 0.658 841 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.317 683 2;
  • 27) 0.317 683 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.635 366 4;
  • 28) 0.635 366 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.270 732 8;
  • 29) 0.270 732 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.541 465 6;
  • 30) 0.541 465 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.082 931 2;
  • 31) 0.082 931 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.165 862 4;
  • 32) 0.165 862 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.331 724 8;
  • 33) 0.331 724 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.663 449 6;
  • 34) 0.663 449 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.326 899 2;
  • 35) 0.326 899 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.653 798 4;
  • 36) 0.653 798 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.307 596 8;
  • 37) 0.307 596 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.615 193 6;

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:


0.000 066 3(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0100 0101 1000 0101 0100 0101 0(2)

5. Positive number before normalization:

0.000 066 3(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0100 0101 1000 0101 0100 0101 0(2)

6. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 14 positions to the right, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


0.000 066 3(10) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0100 0101 1000 0101 0100 0101 0(2) =


0.0000 0000 0000 0100 0101 1000 0101 0100 0101 0(2) × 20 =


1.0001 0110 0001 0101 0001 010(2) × 2-14


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): -14


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.0001 0110 0001 0101 0001 010


8. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 8 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


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


-14 + 2(8-1) - 1 =


(-14 + 127)(10) =


113(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;
  • 113 ÷ 2 = 56 + 1;
  • 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) =


113(10) =


0111 0001(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 1011 0000 1010 1000 1010 =


000 1011 0000 1010 1000 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 0001


Mantissa (23 bits) =
000 1011 0000 1010 1000 1010


Decimal number 0.000 066 3 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

0 - 0111 0001 - 000 1011 0000 1010 1000 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