68.103 444 271 380 823 324 Converted to 32 Bit Single Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal 68.103 444 271 380 823 324(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
68.103 444 271 380 823 324(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: 68.
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;
  • 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;

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.

68(10) =


100 0100(2)


3. Convert to binary (base 2) the fractional part: 0.103 444 271 380 823 324.

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) 0.103 444 271 380 823 324 × 2 = 0 + 0.206 888 542 761 646 648;
  • 2) 0.206 888 542 761 646 648 × 2 = 0 + 0.413 777 085 523 293 296;
  • 3) 0.413 777 085 523 293 296 × 2 = 0 + 0.827 554 171 046 586 592;
  • 4) 0.827 554 171 046 586 592 × 2 = 1 + 0.655 108 342 093 173 184;
  • 5) 0.655 108 342 093 173 184 × 2 = 1 + 0.310 216 684 186 346 368;
  • 6) 0.310 216 684 186 346 368 × 2 = 0 + 0.620 433 368 372 692 736;
  • 7) 0.620 433 368 372 692 736 × 2 = 1 + 0.240 866 736 745 385 472;
  • 8) 0.240 866 736 745 385 472 × 2 = 0 + 0.481 733 473 490 770 944;
  • 9) 0.481 733 473 490 770 944 × 2 = 0 + 0.963 466 946 981 541 888;
  • 10) 0.963 466 946 981 541 888 × 2 = 1 + 0.926 933 893 963 083 776;
  • 11) 0.926 933 893 963 083 776 × 2 = 1 + 0.853 867 787 926 167 552;
  • 12) 0.853 867 787 926 167 552 × 2 = 1 + 0.707 735 575 852 335 104;
  • 13) 0.707 735 575 852 335 104 × 2 = 1 + 0.415 471 151 704 670 208;
  • 14) 0.415 471 151 704 670 208 × 2 = 0 + 0.830 942 303 409 340 416;
  • 15) 0.830 942 303 409 340 416 × 2 = 1 + 0.661 884 606 818 680 832;
  • 16) 0.661 884 606 818 680 832 × 2 = 1 + 0.323 769 213 637 361 664;
  • 17) 0.323 769 213 637 361 664 × 2 = 0 + 0.647 538 427 274 723 328;
  • 18) 0.647 538 427 274 723 328 × 2 = 1 + 0.295 076 854 549 446 656;
  • 19) 0.295 076 854 549 446 656 × 2 = 0 + 0.590 153 709 098 893 312;
  • 20) 0.590 153 709 098 893 312 × 2 = 1 + 0.180 307 418 197 786 624;
  • 21) 0.180 307 418 197 786 624 × 2 = 0 + 0.360 614 836 395 573 248;
  • 22) 0.360 614 836 395 573 248 × 2 = 0 + 0.721 229 672 791 146 496;
  • 23) 0.721 229 672 791 146 496 × 2 = 1 + 0.442 459 345 582 292 992;
  • 24) 0.442 459 345 582 292 992 × 2 = 0 + 0.884 918 691 164 585 984;

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:


0.103 444 271 380 823 324(10) =


0.0001 1010 0111 1011 0101 0010(2)

5. Positive number before normalization:

68.103 444 271 380 823 324(10) =


100 0100.0001 1010 0111 1011 0101 0010(2)

6. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 6 positions to the left, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


68.103 444 271 380 823 324(10) =


100 0100.0001 1010 0111 1011 0101 0010(2) =


100 0100.0001 1010 0111 1011 0101 0010(2) × 20 =


1.0001 0000 0110 1001 1110 1101 0100 10(2) × 26


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): 6


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.0001 0000 0110 1001 1110 1101 0100 10


8. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 8 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


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


6 + 2(8-1) - 1 =


(6 + 127)(10) =


133(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;
  • 133 ÷ 2 = 66 + 1;
  • 66 ÷ 2 = 33 + 0;
  • 33 ÷ 2 = 16 + 1;
  • 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) =


133(10) =


1000 0101(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. 000 1000 0011 0100 1111 0110 101 0010 =


000 1000 0011 0100 1111 0110


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 0101


Mantissa (23 bits) =
000 1000 0011 0100 1111 0110


Decimal number 68.103 444 271 380 823 324 converted to 32 bit single precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

0 - 1000 0101 - 000 1000 0011 0100 1111 0110


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