1 000.501 000 100 011 109 916 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal 1 000.501 000 100 011 109 916(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
1 000.501 000 100 011 109 916(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: 1 000.
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;
  • 1 000 ÷ 2 = 500 + 0;
  • 500 ÷ 2 = 250 + 0;
  • 250 ÷ 2 = 125 + 0;
  • 125 ÷ 2 = 62 + 1;
  • 62 ÷ 2 = 31 + 0;
  • 31 ÷ 2 = 15 + 1;
  • 15 ÷ 2 = 7 + 1;
  • 7 ÷ 2 = 3 + 1;
  • 3 ÷ 2 = 1 + 1;
  • 1 ÷ 2 = 0 + 1;

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.

1 000(10) =


11 1110 1000(2)


3. Convert to binary (base 2) the fractional part: 0.501 000 100 011 109 916.

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) 0.501 000 100 011 109 916 × 2 = 1 + 0.002 000 200 022 219 832;
  • 2) 0.002 000 200 022 219 832 × 2 = 0 + 0.004 000 400 044 439 664;
  • 3) 0.004 000 400 044 439 664 × 2 = 0 + 0.008 000 800 088 879 328;
  • 4) 0.008 000 800 088 879 328 × 2 = 0 + 0.016 001 600 177 758 656;
  • 5) 0.016 001 600 177 758 656 × 2 = 0 + 0.032 003 200 355 517 312;
  • 6) 0.032 003 200 355 517 312 × 2 = 0 + 0.064 006 400 711 034 624;
  • 7) 0.064 006 400 711 034 624 × 2 = 0 + 0.128 012 801 422 069 248;
  • 8) 0.128 012 801 422 069 248 × 2 = 0 + 0.256 025 602 844 138 496;
  • 9) 0.256 025 602 844 138 496 × 2 = 0 + 0.512 051 205 688 276 992;
  • 10) 0.512 051 205 688 276 992 × 2 = 1 + 0.024 102 411 376 553 984;
  • 11) 0.024 102 411 376 553 984 × 2 = 0 + 0.048 204 822 753 107 968;
  • 12) 0.048 204 822 753 107 968 × 2 = 0 + 0.096 409 645 506 215 936;
  • 13) 0.096 409 645 506 215 936 × 2 = 0 + 0.192 819 291 012 431 872;
  • 14) 0.192 819 291 012 431 872 × 2 = 0 + 0.385 638 582 024 863 744;
  • 15) 0.385 638 582 024 863 744 × 2 = 0 + 0.771 277 164 049 727 488;
  • 16) 0.771 277 164 049 727 488 × 2 = 1 + 0.542 554 328 099 454 976;
  • 17) 0.542 554 328 099 454 976 × 2 = 1 + 0.085 108 656 198 909 952;
  • 18) 0.085 108 656 198 909 952 × 2 = 0 + 0.170 217 312 397 819 904;
  • 19) 0.170 217 312 397 819 904 × 2 = 0 + 0.340 434 624 795 639 808;
  • 20) 0.340 434 624 795 639 808 × 2 = 0 + 0.680 869 249 591 279 616;
  • 21) 0.680 869 249 591 279 616 × 2 = 1 + 0.361 738 499 182 559 232;
  • 22) 0.361 738 499 182 559 232 × 2 = 0 + 0.723 476 998 365 118 464;
  • 23) 0.723 476 998 365 118 464 × 2 = 1 + 0.446 953 996 730 236 928;
  • 24) 0.446 953 996 730 236 928 × 2 = 0 + 0.893 907 993 460 473 856;

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:


0.501 000 100 011 109 916(10) =


0.1000 0000 0100 0001 1000 1010(2)

5. Positive number before normalization:

1 000.501 000 100 011 109 916(10) =


11 1110 1000.1000 0000 0100 0001 1000 1010(2)

6. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 9 positions to the left, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


1 000.501 000 100 011 109 916(10) =


11 1110 1000.1000 0000 0100 0001 1000 1010(2) =


11 1110 1000.1000 0000 0100 0001 1000 1010(2) × 20 =


1.1111 0100 0100 0000 0010 0000 1100 0101 0(2) × 29


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): 9


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.1111 0100 0100 0000 0010 0000 1100 0101 0


8. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 8 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


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


9 + 2(8-1) - 1 =


(9 + 127)(10) =


136(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;
  • 136 ÷ 2 = 68 + 0;
  • 68 ÷ 2 = 34 + 0;
  • 34 ÷ 2 = 17 + 0;
  • 17 ÷ 2 = 8 + 1;
  • 8 ÷ 2 = 4 + 0;
  • 4 ÷ 2 = 2 + 0;
  • 2 ÷ 2 = 1 + 0;
  • 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) =


136(10) =


1000 1000(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, by removing the excess bits, from the right (if any of the excess bits is set on 1, we are losing precision...).


Mantissa (normalized) =


1. 111 1010 0010 0000 0001 0000 01 1000 1010 =


111 1010 0010 0000 0001 0000


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) =
1000 1000


Mantissa (23 bits) =
111 1010 0010 0000 0001 0000


Decimal number 1 000.501 000 100 011 109 916 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

0 - 1000 1000 - 111 1010 0010 0000 0001 0000


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