2.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 332 948 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal 2.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 332 948(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
2.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 332 948(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: 2.
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;
  • 2 ÷ 2 = 1 + 0;
  • 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.

2(10) =


10(2)


3. Convert to binary (base 2) the fractional part: 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 332 948.

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) 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 332 948 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 665 896;
  • 2) 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 665 896 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 331 792;
  • 3) 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 331 792 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 663 584;
  • 4) 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 663 584 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 327 168;
  • 5) 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 327 168 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 654 336;
  • 6) 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 654 336 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 308 672;
  • 7) 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 308 672 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 617 344;
  • 8) 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 617 344 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 234 688;
  • 9) 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 234 688 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 469 376;
  • 10) 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 469 376 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 332 938 752;
  • 11) 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 332 938 752 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 665 877 504;
  • 12) 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 665 877 504 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 331 755 008;
  • 13) 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 331 755 008 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 663 510 016;
  • 14) 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 663 510 016 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 327 020 032;
  • 15) 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 327 020 032 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 654 040 064;
  • 16) 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 654 040 064 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 308 080 128;
  • 17) 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 308 080 128 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 616 160 256;
  • 18) 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 616 160 256 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 232 320 512;
  • 19) 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 232 320 512 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 464 641 024;
  • 20) 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 464 641 024 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 332 929 282 048;
  • 21) 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 332 929 282 048 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 665 858 564 096;
  • 22) 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 665 858 564 096 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 331 717 128 192;
  • 23) 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 331 717 128 192 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 663 434 256 384;
  • 24) 0.666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 666 663 434 256 384 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 326 868 512 768;

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:


0.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 332 948(10) =


0.0101 0101 0101 0101 0101 0101(2)

5. Positive number before normalization:

2.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 332 948(10) =


10.0101 0101 0101 0101 0101 0101(2)

6. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 1 positions to the left, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


2.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 332 948(10) =


10.0101 0101 0101 0101 0101 0101(2) =


10.0101 0101 0101 0101 0101 0101(2) × 20 =


1.0010 1010 1010 1010 1010 1010 1(2) × 21


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): 1


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.0010 1010 1010 1010 1010 1010 1


8. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 8 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


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


1 + 2(8-1) - 1 =


(1 + 127)(10) =


128(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;
  • 128 ÷ 2 = 64 + 0;
  • 64 ÷ 2 = 32 + 0;
  • 32 ÷ 2 = 16 + 0;
  • 16 ÷ 2 = 8 + 0;
  • 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) =


128(10) =


1000 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, 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. 001 0101 0101 0101 0101 0101 01 =


001 0101 0101 0101 0101 0101


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 0000


Mantissa (23 bits) =
001 0101 0101 0101 0101 0101


Decimal number 2.333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 333 332 948 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

0 - 1000 0000 - 001 0101 0101 0101 0101 0101


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