0.000 549 317 16 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal 0.000 549 317 16(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
0.000 549 317 16(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: 0.000 549 317 16.

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) 0.000 549 317 16 × 2 = 0 + 0.001 098 634 32;
  • 2) 0.001 098 634 32 × 2 = 0 + 0.002 197 268 64;
  • 3) 0.002 197 268 64 × 2 = 0 + 0.004 394 537 28;
  • 4) 0.004 394 537 28 × 2 = 0 + 0.008 789 074 56;
  • 5) 0.008 789 074 56 × 2 = 0 + 0.017 578 149 12;
  • 6) 0.017 578 149 12 × 2 = 0 + 0.035 156 298 24;
  • 7) 0.035 156 298 24 × 2 = 0 + 0.070 312 596 48;
  • 8) 0.070 312 596 48 × 2 = 0 + 0.140 625 192 96;
  • 9) 0.140 625 192 96 × 2 = 0 + 0.281 250 385 92;
  • 10) 0.281 250 385 92 × 2 = 0 + 0.562 500 771 84;
  • 11) 0.562 500 771 84 × 2 = 1 + 0.125 001 543 68;
  • 12) 0.125 001 543 68 × 2 = 0 + 0.250 003 087 36;
  • 13) 0.250 003 087 36 × 2 = 0 + 0.500 006 174 72;
  • 14) 0.500 006 174 72 × 2 = 1 + 0.000 012 349 44;
  • 15) 0.000 012 349 44 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 024 698 88;
  • 16) 0.000 024 698 88 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 049 397 76;
  • 17) 0.000 049 397 76 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 098 795 52;
  • 18) 0.000 098 795 52 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 197 591 04;
  • 19) 0.000 197 591 04 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 395 182 08;
  • 20) 0.000 395 182 08 × 2 = 0 + 0.000 790 364 16;
  • 21) 0.000 790 364 16 × 2 = 0 + 0.001 580 728 32;
  • 22) 0.001 580 728 32 × 2 = 0 + 0.003 161 456 64;
  • 23) 0.003 161 456 64 × 2 = 0 + 0.006 322 913 28;
  • 24) 0.006 322 913 28 × 2 = 0 + 0.012 645 826 56;
  • 25) 0.012 645 826 56 × 2 = 0 + 0.025 291 653 12;
  • 26) 0.025 291 653 12 × 2 = 0 + 0.050 583 306 24;
  • 27) 0.050 583 306 24 × 2 = 0 + 0.101 166 612 48;
  • 28) 0.101 166 612 48 × 2 = 0 + 0.202 333 224 96;
  • 29) 0.202 333 224 96 × 2 = 0 + 0.404 666 449 92;
  • 30) 0.404 666 449 92 × 2 = 0 + 0.809 332 899 84;
  • 31) 0.809 332 899 84 × 2 = 1 + 0.618 665 799 68;
  • 32) 0.618 665 799 68 × 2 = 1 + 0.237 331 599 36;
  • 33) 0.237 331 599 36 × 2 = 0 + 0.474 663 198 72;
  • 34) 0.474 663 198 72 × 2 = 0 + 0.949 326 397 44;

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:


0.000 549 317 16(10) =


0.0000 0000 0010 0100 0000 0000 0000 0011 00(2)

5. Positive number before normalization:

0.000 549 317 16(10) =


0.0000 0000 0010 0100 0000 0000 0000 0011 00(2)

6. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 11 positions to the right, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


0.000 549 317 16(10) =


0.0000 0000 0010 0100 0000 0000 0000 0011 00(2) =


0.0000 0000 0010 0100 0000 0000 0000 0011 00(2) × 20 =


1.0010 0000 0000 0000 0001 100(2) × 2-11


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): -11


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.0010 0000 0000 0000 0001 100


8. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 8 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


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


-11 + 2(8-1) - 1 =


(-11 + 127)(10) =


116(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;
  • 116 ÷ 2 = 58 + 0;
  • 58 ÷ 2 = 29 + 0;
  • 29 ÷ 2 = 14 + 1;
  • 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) =


116(10) =


0111 0100(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. 001 0000 0000 0000 0000 1100 =


001 0000 0000 0000 0000 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) =
0111 0100


Mantissa (23 bits) =
001 0000 0000 0000 0000 1100


Decimal number 0.000 549 317 16 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

0 - 0111 0100 - 001 0000 0000 0000 0000 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