-0.016 738 891 601 562 495 88 Converted to 64 Bit Double Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal -0.016 738 891 601 562 495 88(10) to 64 bit double precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation standard (1 bit for sign, 11 bits for exponent, 52 bits for mantissa)

What are the steps to convert decimal number
-0.016 738 891 601 562 495 88(10) to 64 bit double precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation (1 bit for sign, 11 bits for exponent, 52 bits for mantissa)

1. Start with the positive version of the number:

|-0.016 738 891 601 562 495 88| = 0.016 738 891 601 562 495 88


2. 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;

3. 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)


4. Convert to binary (base 2) the fractional part: 0.016 738 891 601 562 495 88.

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) 0.016 738 891 601 562 495 88 × 2 = 0 + 0.033 477 783 203 124 991 76;
  • 2) 0.033 477 783 203 124 991 76 × 2 = 0 + 0.066 955 566 406 249 983 52;
  • 3) 0.066 955 566 406 249 983 52 × 2 = 0 + 0.133 911 132 812 499 967 04;
  • 4) 0.133 911 132 812 499 967 04 × 2 = 0 + 0.267 822 265 624 999 934 08;
  • 5) 0.267 822 265 624 999 934 08 × 2 = 0 + 0.535 644 531 249 999 868 16;
  • 6) 0.535 644 531 249 999 868 16 × 2 = 1 + 0.071 289 062 499 999 736 32;
  • 7) 0.071 289 062 499 999 736 32 × 2 = 0 + 0.142 578 124 999 999 472 64;
  • 8) 0.142 578 124 999 999 472 64 × 2 = 0 + 0.285 156 249 999 998 945 28;
  • 9) 0.285 156 249 999 998 945 28 × 2 = 0 + 0.570 312 499 999 997 890 56;
  • 10) 0.570 312 499 999 997 890 56 × 2 = 1 + 0.140 624 999 999 995 781 12;
  • 11) 0.140 624 999 999 995 781 12 × 2 = 0 + 0.281 249 999 999 991 562 24;
  • 12) 0.281 249 999 999 991 562 24 × 2 = 0 + 0.562 499 999 999 983 124 48;
  • 13) 0.562 499 999 999 983 124 48 × 2 = 1 + 0.124 999 999 999 966 248 96;
  • 14) 0.124 999 999 999 966 248 96 × 2 = 0 + 0.249 999 999 999 932 497 92;
  • 15) 0.249 999 999 999 932 497 92 × 2 = 0 + 0.499 999 999 999 864 995 84;
  • 16) 0.499 999 999 999 864 995 84 × 2 = 0 + 0.999 999 999 999 729 991 68;
  • 17) 0.999 999 999 999 729 991 68 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 999 459 983 36;
  • 18) 0.999 999 999 999 459 983 36 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 998 919 966 72;
  • 19) 0.999 999 999 998 919 966 72 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 997 839 933 44;
  • 20) 0.999 999 999 997 839 933 44 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 995 679 866 88;
  • 21) 0.999 999 999 995 679 866 88 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 991 359 733 76;
  • 22) 0.999 999 999 991 359 733 76 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 982 719 467 52;
  • 23) 0.999 999 999 982 719 467 52 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 965 438 935 04;
  • 24) 0.999 999 999 965 438 935 04 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 930 877 870 08;
  • 25) 0.999 999 999 930 877 870 08 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 861 755 740 16;
  • 26) 0.999 999 999 861 755 740 16 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 723 511 480 32;
  • 27) 0.999 999 999 723 511 480 32 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 447 022 960 64;
  • 28) 0.999 999 999 447 022 960 64 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 998 894 045 921 28;
  • 29) 0.999 999 998 894 045 921 28 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 997 788 091 842 56;
  • 30) 0.999 999 997 788 091 842 56 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 995 576 183 685 12;
  • 31) 0.999 999 995 576 183 685 12 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 991 152 367 370 24;
  • 32) 0.999 999 991 152 367 370 24 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 982 304 734 740 48;
  • 33) 0.999 999 982 304 734 740 48 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 964 609 469 480 96;
  • 34) 0.999 999 964 609 469 480 96 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 929 218 938 961 92;
  • 35) 0.999 999 929 218 938 961 92 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 858 437 877 923 84;
  • 36) 0.999 999 858 437 877 923 84 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 716 875 755 847 68;
  • 37) 0.999 999 716 875 755 847 68 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 433 751 511 695 36;
  • 38) 0.999 999 433 751 511 695 36 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 998 867 503 023 390 72;
  • 39) 0.999 998 867 503 023 390 72 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 997 735 006 046 781 44;
  • 40) 0.999 997 735 006 046 781 44 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 995 470 012 093 562 88;
  • 41) 0.999 995 470 012 093 562 88 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 990 940 024 187 125 76;
  • 42) 0.999 990 940 024 187 125 76 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 981 880 048 374 251 52;
  • 43) 0.999 981 880 048 374 251 52 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 963 760 096 748 503 04;
  • 44) 0.999 963 760 096 748 503 04 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 927 520 193 497 006 08;
  • 45) 0.999 927 520 193 497 006 08 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 855 040 386 994 012 16;
  • 46) 0.999 855 040 386 994 012 16 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 710 080 773 988 024 32;
  • 47) 0.999 710 080 773 988 024 32 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 420 161 547 976 048 64;
  • 48) 0.999 420 161 547 976 048 64 × 2 = 1 + 0.998 840 323 095 952 097 28;
  • 49) 0.998 840 323 095 952 097 28 × 2 = 1 + 0.997 680 646 191 904 194 56;
  • 50) 0.997 680 646 191 904 194 56 × 2 = 1 + 0.995 361 292 383 808 389 12;
  • 51) 0.995 361 292 383 808 389 12 × 2 = 1 + 0.990 722 584 767 616 778 24;
  • 52) 0.990 722 584 767 616 778 24 × 2 = 1 + 0.981 445 169 535 233 556 48;
  • 53) 0.981 445 169 535 233 556 48 × 2 = 1 + 0.962 890 339 070 467 112 96;
  • 54) 0.962 890 339 070 467 112 96 × 2 = 1 + 0.925 780 678 140 934 225 92;
  • 55) 0.925 780 678 140 934 225 92 × 2 = 1 + 0.851 561 356 281 868 451 84;
  • 56) 0.851 561 356 281 868 451 84 × 2 = 1 + 0.703 122 712 563 736 903 68;
  • 57) 0.703 122 712 563 736 903 68 × 2 = 1 + 0.406 245 425 127 473 807 36;
  • 58) 0.406 245 425 127 473 807 36 × 2 = 0 + 0.812 490 850 254 947 614 72;

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).


5. 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:


0.016 738 891 601 562 495 88(10) =


0.0000 0100 0100 1000 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 10(2)

6. Positive number before normalization:

0.016 738 891 601 562 495 88(10) =


0.0000 0100 0100 1000 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 10(2)

7. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

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


0.016 738 891 601 562 495 88(10) =


0.0000 0100 0100 1000 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 10(2) =


0.0000 0100 0100 1000 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 10(2) × 20 =


1.0001 0010 0011 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1110(2) × 2-6


8. Up to this moment, there are the following elements that would feed into the 64 bit double precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

Sign 1 (a negative number)


Exponent (unadjusted): -6


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.0001 0010 0011 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1110


9. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 11 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


Exponent (unadjusted) + 2(11-1) - 1 =


-6 + 2(11-1) - 1 =


(-6 + 1 023)(10) =


1 017(10)


10. Convert the adjusted exponent from the decimal (base 10) to 11 bit binary.

Use the same technique of repeatedly dividing by 2:


  • division = quotient + remainder;
  • 1 017 ÷ 2 = 508 + 1;
  • 508 ÷ 2 = 254 + 0;
  • 254 ÷ 2 = 127 + 0;
  • 127 ÷ 2 = 63 + 1;
  • 63 ÷ 2 = 31 + 1;
  • 31 ÷ 2 = 15 + 1;
  • 15 ÷ 2 = 7 + 1;
  • 7 ÷ 2 = 3 + 1;
  • 3 ÷ 2 = 1 + 1;
  • 1 ÷ 2 = 0 + 1;

11. Construct the base 2 representation of the adjusted exponent.

Take all the remainders starting from the bottom of the list constructed above.


Exponent (adjusted) =


1017(10) =


011 1111 1001(2)


12. 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 52 bits, only if necessary (not the case here).


Mantissa (normalized) =


1. 0001 0010 0011 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1110 =


0001 0010 0011 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1110


13. The three elements that make up the number's 64 bit double precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

Sign (1 bit) =
1 (a negative number)


Exponent (11 bits) =
011 1111 1001


Mantissa (52 bits) =
0001 0010 0011 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1110


Decimal number -0.016 738 891 601 562 495 88 converted to 64 bit double precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

1 - 011 1111 1001 - 0001 0010 0011 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1110


How to convert numbers from the decimal system (base ten) to 64 bit double precision IEEE 754 binary floating point standard

Follow the steps below to convert a base 10 decimal number to 64 bit double 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 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 from the previous 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 multiplying operations, starting from the top of the list constructed 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, shifting the decimal mark (the decimal point) "n" positions either to the left, or to the right, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of the decimal mark.
  • 7. Adjust the exponent in 11 bit excess/bias notation and then convert it from decimal (base 10) to 11 bit binary, by using the same technique of repeatedly dividing by 2, as shown above:
    Exponent (adjusted) = Exponent (unadjusted) + 2(11-1) - 1
  • 8. Normalize mantissa, remove the leading (leftmost) bit, since it's allways '1' (and the decimal mark, if the case) and adjust its length to 52 bits, either by removing the excess bits from the right (losing precision...) or by adding extra bits set on '0' 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 -31.640 215 from the decimal system (base ten) to 64 bit double precision IEEE 754 binary floating point:

  • 1. Start with the positive version of the number:

    |-31.640 215| = 31.640 215

  • 2. First convert the integer part, 31. Divide it repeatedly by 2, keeping track of each remainder, until we get a quotient that is equal to zero:
    • division = quotient + remainder;
    • 31 ÷ 2 = 15 + 1;
    • 15 ÷ 2 = 7 + 1;
    • 7 ÷ 2 = 3 + 1;
    • 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:

    31(10) = 1 1111(2)

  • 4. Then, convert the fractional part, 0.640 215. 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) 0.640 215 × 2 = 1 + 0.280 43;
    • 2) 0.280 43 × 2 = 0 + 0.560 86;
    • 3) 0.560 86 × 2 = 1 + 0.121 72;
    • 4) 0.121 72 × 2 = 0 + 0.243 44;
    • 5) 0.243 44 × 2 = 0 + 0.486 88;
    • 6) 0.486 88 × 2 = 0 + 0.973 76;
    • 7) 0.973 76 × 2 = 1 + 0.947 52;
    • 8) 0.947 52 × 2 = 1 + 0.895 04;
    • 9) 0.895 04 × 2 = 1 + 0.790 08;
    • 10) 0.790 08 × 2 = 1 + 0.580 16;
    • 11) 0.580 16 × 2 = 1 + 0.160 32;
    • 12) 0.160 32 × 2 = 0 + 0.320 64;
    • 13) 0.320 64 × 2 = 0 + 0.641 28;
    • 14) 0.641 28 × 2 = 1 + 0.282 56;
    • 15) 0.282 56 × 2 = 0 + 0.565 12;
    • 16) 0.565 12 × 2 = 1 + 0.130 24;
    • 17) 0.130 24 × 2 = 0 + 0.260 48;
    • 18) 0.260 48 × 2 = 0 + 0.520 96;
    • 19) 0.520 96 × 2 = 1 + 0.041 92;
    • 20) 0.041 92 × 2 = 0 + 0.083 84;
    • 21) 0.083 84 × 2 = 0 + 0.167 68;
    • 22) 0.167 68 × 2 = 0 + 0.335 36;
    • 23) 0.335 36 × 2 = 0 + 0.670 72;
    • 24) 0.670 72 × 2 = 1 + 0.341 44;
    • 25) 0.341 44 × 2 = 0 + 0.682 88;
    • 26) 0.682 88 × 2 = 1 + 0.365 76;
    • 27) 0.365 76 × 2 = 0 + 0.731 52;
    • 28) 0.731 52 × 2 = 1 + 0.463 04;
    • 29) 0.463 04 × 2 = 0 + 0.926 08;
    • 30) 0.926 08 × 2 = 1 + 0.852 16;
    • 31) 0.852 16 × 2 = 1 + 0.704 32;
    • 32) 0.704 32 × 2 = 1 + 0.408 64;
    • 33) 0.408 64 × 2 = 0 + 0.817 28;
    • 34) 0.817 28 × 2 = 1 + 0.634 56;
    • 35) 0.634 56 × 2 = 1 + 0.269 12;
    • 36) 0.269 12 × 2 = 0 + 0.538 24;
    • 37) 0.538 24 × 2 = 1 + 0.076 48;
    • 38) 0.076 48 × 2 = 0 + 0.152 96;
    • 39) 0.152 96 × 2 = 0 + 0.305 92;
    • 40) 0.305 92 × 2 = 0 + 0.611 84;
    • 41) 0.611 84 × 2 = 1 + 0.223 68;
    • 42) 0.223 68 × 2 = 0 + 0.447 36;
    • 43) 0.447 36 × 2 = 0 + 0.894 72;
    • 44) 0.894 72 × 2 = 1 + 0.789 44;
    • 45) 0.789 44 × 2 = 1 + 0.578 88;
    • 46) 0.578 88 × 2 = 1 + 0.157 76;
    • 47) 0.157 76 × 2 = 0 + 0.315 52;
    • 48) 0.315 52 × 2 = 0 + 0.631 04;
    • 49) 0.631 04 × 2 = 1 + 0.262 08;
    • 50) 0.262 08 × 2 = 0 + 0.524 16;
    • 51) 0.524 16 × 2 = 1 + 0.048 32;
    • 52) 0.048 32 × 2 = 0 + 0.096 64;
    • 53) 0.096 64 × 2 = 0 + 0.193 28;
    • We didn't get any fractional part that was equal to zero. But we had enough iterations (over Mantissa limit = 52) 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:

    0.640 215(10) = 0.1010 0011 1110 0101 0010 0001 0101 0111 0110 1000 1001 1100 1010 0(2)

  • 6. Summarizing - the positive number before normalization:

    31.640 215(10) = 1 1111.1010 0011 1110 0101 0010 0001 0101 0111 0110 1000 1001 1100 1010 0(2)

  • 7. Normalize the binary representation of the number, shifting the decimal mark 4 positions to the left so that only one non-zero digit stays to the left of the decimal mark:

    31.640 215(10) =
    1 1111.1010 0011 1110 0101 0010 0001 0101 0111 0110 1000 1001 1100 1010 0(2) =
    1 1111.1010 0011 1110 0101 0010 0001 0101 0111 0110 1000 1001 1100 1010 0(2) × 20 =
    1.1111 1010 0011 1110 0101 0010 0001 0101 0111 0110 1000 1001 1100 1010 0(2) × 24

  • 8. Up to this moment, there are the following elements that would feed into the 64 bit double precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

    Sign: 1 (a negative number)

    Exponent (unadjusted): 4

    Mantissa (not-normalized): 1.1111 1010 0011 1110 0101 0010 0001 0101 0111 0110 1000 1001 1100 1010 0

  • 9. Adjust the exponent in 11 bit excess/bias notation and then convert it from decimal (base 10) to 11 bit binary (base 2), by using the same technique of repeatedly dividing it by 2, as shown above:

    Exponent (adjusted) = Exponent (unadjusted) + 2(11-1) - 1 = (4 + 1023)(10) = 1027(10) =
    100 0000 0011(2)

  • 10. Normalize mantissa, remove the leading (leftmost) bit, since it's allways '1' (and the decimal sign) and adjust its length to 52 bits, by removing the excess bits, from the right (losing precision...):

    Mantissa (not-normalized): 1.1111 1010 0011 1110 0101 0010 0001 0101 0111 0110 1000 1001 1100 1010 0

    Mantissa (normalized): 1111 1010 0011 1110 0101 0010 0001 0101 0111 0110 1000 1001 1100

  • Conclusion:

    Sign (1 bit) = 1 (a negative number)

    Exponent (8 bits) = 100 0000 0011

    Mantissa (52 bits) = 1111 1010 0011 1110 0101 0010 0001 0101 0111 0110 1000 1001 1100

  • Number -31.640 215, converted from decimal system (base 10) to 64 bit double precision IEEE 754 binary floating point =
    1 - 100 0000 0011 - 1111 1010 0011 1110 0101 0010 0001 0101 0111 0110 1000 1001 1100