-0.016 738 891 601 562 496 530 563 3 Converted to 64 Bit Double Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal -0.016 738 891 601 562 496 530 563 3(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
-0.016 738 891 601 562 496 530 563 3(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:

|-0.016 738 891 601 562 496 530 563 3| = 0.016 738 891 601 562 496 530 563 3


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: 0.016 738 891 601 562 496 530 563 3.

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) 0.016 738 891 601 562 496 530 563 3 × 2 = 0 + 0.033 477 783 203 124 993 061 126 6;
  • 2) 0.033 477 783 203 124 993 061 126 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.066 955 566 406 249 986 122 253 2;
  • 3) 0.066 955 566 406 249 986 122 253 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.133 911 132 812 499 972 244 506 4;
  • 4) 0.133 911 132 812 499 972 244 506 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.267 822 265 624 999 944 489 012 8;
  • 5) 0.267 822 265 624 999 944 489 012 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.535 644 531 249 999 888 978 025 6;
  • 6) 0.535 644 531 249 999 888 978 025 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.071 289 062 499 999 777 956 051 2;
  • 7) 0.071 289 062 499 999 777 956 051 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.142 578 124 999 999 555 912 102 4;
  • 8) 0.142 578 124 999 999 555 912 102 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.285 156 249 999 999 111 824 204 8;
  • 9) 0.285 156 249 999 999 111 824 204 8 × 2 = 0 + 0.570 312 499 999 998 223 648 409 6;
  • 10) 0.570 312 499 999 998 223 648 409 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.140 624 999 999 996 447 296 819 2;
  • 11) 0.140 624 999 999 996 447 296 819 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.281 249 999 999 992 894 593 638 4;
  • 12) 0.281 249 999 999 992 894 593 638 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.562 499 999 999 985 789 187 276 8;
  • 13) 0.562 499 999 999 985 789 187 276 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.124 999 999 999 971 578 374 553 6;
  • 14) 0.124 999 999 999 971 578 374 553 6 × 2 = 0 + 0.249 999 999 999 943 156 749 107 2;
  • 15) 0.249 999 999 999 943 156 749 107 2 × 2 = 0 + 0.499 999 999 999 886 313 498 214 4;
  • 16) 0.499 999 999 999 886 313 498 214 4 × 2 = 0 + 0.999 999 999 999 772 626 996 428 8;
  • 17) 0.999 999 999 999 772 626 996 428 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 999 545 253 992 857 6;
  • 18) 0.999 999 999 999 545 253 992 857 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 999 090 507 985 715 2;
  • 19) 0.999 999 999 999 090 507 985 715 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 998 181 015 971 430 4;
  • 20) 0.999 999 999 998 181 015 971 430 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 996 362 031 942 860 8;
  • 21) 0.999 999 999 996 362 031 942 860 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 992 724 063 885 721 6;
  • 22) 0.999 999 999 992 724 063 885 721 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 985 448 127 771 443 2;
  • 23) 0.999 999 999 985 448 127 771 443 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 970 896 255 542 886 4;
  • 24) 0.999 999 999 970 896 255 542 886 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 941 792 511 085 772 8;
  • 25) 0.999 999 999 941 792 511 085 772 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 883 585 022 171 545 6;
  • 26) 0.999 999 999 883 585 022 171 545 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 767 170 044 343 091 2;
  • 27) 0.999 999 999 767 170 044 343 091 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 534 340 088 686 182 4;
  • 28) 0.999 999 999 534 340 088 686 182 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 999 068 680 177 372 364 8;
  • 29) 0.999 999 999 068 680 177 372 364 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 998 137 360 354 744 729 6;
  • 30) 0.999 999 998 137 360 354 744 729 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 996 274 720 709 489 459 2;
  • 31) 0.999 999 996 274 720 709 489 459 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 992 549 441 418 978 918 4;
  • 32) 0.999 999 992 549 441 418 978 918 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 985 098 882 837 957 836 8;
  • 33) 0.999 999 985 098 882 837 957 836 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 970 197 765 675 915 673 6;
  • 34) 0.999 999 970 197 765 675 915 673 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 940 395 531 351 831 347 2;
  • 35) 0.999 999 940 395 531 351 831 347 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 880 791 062 703 662 694 4;
  • 36) 0.999 999 880 791 062 703 662 694 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 761 582 125 407 325 388 8;
  • 37) 0.999 999 761 582 125 407 325 388 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 523 164 250 814 650 777 6;
  • 38) 0.999 999 523 164 250 814 650 777 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 999 046 328 501 629 301 555 2;
  • 39) 0.999 999 046 328 501 629 301 555 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 998 092 657 003 258 603 110 4;
  • 40) 0.999 998 092 657 003 258 603 110 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 996 185 314 006 517 206 220 8;
  • 41) 0.999 996 185 314 006 517 206 220 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 992 370 628 013 034 412 441 6;
  • 42) 0.999 992 370 628 013 034 412 441 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 984 741 256 026 068 824 883 2;
  • 43) 0.999 984 741 256 026 068 824 883 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 969 482 512 052 137 649 766 4;
  • 44) 0.999 969 482 512 052 137 649 766 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 938 965 024 104 275 299 532 8;
  • 45) 0.999 938 965 024 104 275 299 532 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 877 930 048 208 550 599 065 6;
  • 46) 0.999 877 930 048 208 550 599 065 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 755 860 096 417 101 198 131 2;
  • 47) 0.999 755 860 096 417 101 198 131 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 511 720 192 834 202 396 262 4;
  • 48) 0.999 511 720 192 834 202 396 262 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.999 023 440 385 668 404 792 524 8;
  • 49) 0.999 023 440 385 668 404 792 524 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.998 046 880 771 336 809 585 049 6;
  • 50) 0.998 046 880 771 336 809 585 049 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.996 093 761 542 673 619 170 099 2;
  • 51) 0.996 093 761 542 673 619 170 099 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.992 187 523 085 347 238 340 198 4;
  • 52) 0.992 187 523 085 347 238 340 198 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.984 375 046 170 694 476 680 396 8;
  • 53) 0.984 375 046 170 694 476 680 396 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.968 750 092 341 388 953 360 793 6;
  • 54) 0.968 750 092 341 388 953 360 793 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.937 500 184 682 777 906 721 587 2;
  • 55) 0.937 500 184 682 777 906 721 587 2 × 2 = 1 + 0.875 000 369 365 555 813 443 174 4;
  • 56) 0.875 000 369 365 555 813 443 174 4 × 2 = 1 + 0.750 000 738 731 111 626 886 348 8;
  • 57) 0.750 000 738 731 111 626 886 348 8 × 2 = 1 + 0.500 001 477 462 223 253 772 697 6;
  • 58) 0.500 001 477 462 223 253 772 697 6 × 2 = 1 + 0.000 002 954 924 446 507 545 395 2;

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:


0.016 738 891 601 562 496 530 563 3(10) =


0.0000 0100 0100 1000 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 11(2)

6. Positive number before normalization:

0.016 738 891 601 562 496 530 563 3(10) =


0.0000 0100 0100 1000 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 11(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:


0.016 738 891 601 562 496 530 563 3(10) =


0.0000 0100 0100 1000 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 11(2) =


0.0000 0100 0100 1000 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 11(2) × 20 =


1.0001 0010 0011 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111(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 1111


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 1111 =


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


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 1111


Decimal number -0.016 738 891 601 562 496 530 563 3 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 1111


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