0.166 664 Converted to 64 Bit Double Precision IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Representation Standard

Convert decimal 0.166 664(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
0.166 664(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. 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;

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.

0(10) =


0(2)


3. Convert to binary (base 2) the fractional part: 0.166 664.

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) 0.166 664 × 2 = 0 + 0.333 328;
  • 2) 0.333 328 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 656;
  • 3) 0.666 656 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 312;
  • 4) 0.333 312 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 624;
  • 5) 0.666 624 × 2 = 1 + 0.333 248;
  • 6) 0.333 248 × 2 = 0 + 0.666 496;
  • 7) 0.666 496 × 2 = 1 + 0.332 992;
  • 8) 0.332 992 × 2 = 0 + 0.665 984;
  • 9) 0.665 984 × 2 = 1 + 0.331 968;
  • 10) 0.331 968 × 2 = 0 + 0.663 936;
  • 11) 0.663 936 × 2 = 1 + 0.327 872;
  • 12) 0.327 872 × 2 = 0 + 0.655 744;
  • 13) 0.655 744 × 2 = 1 + 0.311 488;
  • 14) 0.311 488 × 2 = 0 + 0.622 976;
  • 15) 0.622 976 × 2 = 1 + 0.245 952;
  • 16) 0.245 952 × 2 = 0 + 0.491 904;
  • 17) 0.491 904 × 2 = 0 + 0.983 808;
  • 18) 0.983 808 × 2 = 1 + 0.967 616;
  • 19) 0.967 616 × 2 = 1 + 0.935 232;
  • 20) 0.935 232 × 2 = 1 + 0.870 464;
  • 21) 0.870 464 × 2 = 1 + 0.740 928;
  • 22) 0.740 928 × 2 = 1 + 0.481 856;
  • 23) 0.481 856 × 2 = 0 + 0.963 712;
  • 24) 0.963 712 × 2 = 1 + 0.927 424;
  • 25) 0.927 424 × 2 = 1 + 0.854 848;
  • 26) 0.854 848 × 2 = 1 + 0.709 696;
  • 27) 0.709 696 × 2 = 1 + 0.419 392;
  • 28) 0.419 392 × 2 = 0 + 0.838 784;
  • 29) 0.838 784 × 2 = 1 + 0.677 568;
  • 30) 0.677 568 × 2 = 1 + 0.355 136;
  • 31) 0.355 136 × 2 = 0 + 0.710 272;
  • 32) 0.710 272 × 2 = 1 + 0.420 544;
  • 33) 0.420 544 × 2 = 0 + 0.841 088;
  • 34) 0.841 088 × 2 = 1 + 0.682 176;
  • 35) 0.682 176 × 2 = 1 + 0.364 352;
  • 36) 0.364 352 × 2 = 0 + 0.728 704;
  • 37) 0.728 704 × 2 = 1 + 0.457 408;
  • 38) 0.457 408 × 2 = 0 + 0.914 816;
  • 39) 0.914 816 × 2 = 1 + 0.829 632;
  • 40) 0.829 632 × 2 = 1 + 0.659 264;
  • 41) 0.659 264 × 2 = 1 + 0.318 528;
  • 42) 0.318 528 × 2 = 0 + 0.637 056;
  • 43) 0.637 056 × 2 = 1 + 0.274 112;
  • 44) 0.274 112 × 2 = 0 + 0.548 224;
  • 45) 0.548 224 × 2 = 1 + 0.096 448;
  • 46) 0.096 448 × 2 = 0 + 0.192 896;
  • 47) 0.192 896 × 2 = 0 + 0.385 792;
  • 48) 0.385 792 × 2 = 0 + 0.771 584;
  • 49) 0.771 584 × 2 = 1 + 0.543 168;
  • 50) 0.543 168 × 2 = 1 + 0.086 336;
  • 51) 0.086 336 × 2 = 0 + 0.172 672;
  • 52) 0.172 672 × 2 = 0 + 0.345 344;
  • 53) 0.345 344 × 2 = 0 + 0.690 688;
  • 54) 0.690 688 × 2 = 1 + 0.381 376;
  • 55) 0.381 376 × 2 = 0 + 0.762 752;

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:


0.166 664(10) =


0.0010 1010 1010 1010 0111 1101 1110 1101 0110 1011 1010 1000 1100 010(2)

5. Positive number before normalization:

0.166 664(10) =


0.0010 1010 1010 1010 0111 1101 1110 1101 0110 1011 1010 1000 1100 010(2)

6. Normalize the binary representation of the number.

Shift the decimal mark 3 positions to the right, so that only one non zero digit remains to the left of it:


0.166 664(10) =


0.0010 1010 1010 1010 0111 1101 1110 1101 0110 1011 1010 1000 1100 010(2) =


0.0010 1010 1010 1010 0111 1101 1110 1101 0110 1011 1010 1000 1100 010(2) × 20 =


1.0101 0101 0101 0011 1110 1111 0110 1011 0101 1101 0100 0110 0010(2) × 2-3


7. 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 0 (a positive number)


Exponent (unadjusted): -3


Mantissa (not normalized):
1.0101 0101 0101 0011 1110 1111 0110 1011 0101 1101 0100 0110 0010


8. Adjust the exponent.

Use the 11 bit excess/bias notation:


Exponent (adjusted) =


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


-3 + 2(11-1) - 1 =


(-3 + 1 023)(10) =


1 020(10)


9. 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;
  • 1 020 ÷ 2 = 510 + 0;
  • 510 ÷ 2 = 255 + 0;
  • 255 ÷ 2 = 127 + 1;
  • 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;

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) =


1020(10) =


011 1111 1100(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 52 bits, only if necessary (not the case here).


Mantissa (normalized) =


1. 0101 0101 0101 0011 1110 1111 0110 1011 0101 1101 0100 0110 0010 =


0101 0101 0101 0011 1110 1111 0110 1011 0101 1101 0100 0110 0010


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

Sign (1 bit) =
0 (a positive number)


Exponent (11 bits) =
011 1111 1100


Mantissa (52 bits) =
0101 0101 0101 0011 1110 1111 0110 1011 0101 1101 0100 0110 0010


Decimal number 0.166 664 converted to 64 bit double precision IEEE 754 binary floating point representation:

0 - 011 1111 1100 - 0101 0101 0101 0011 1110 1111 0110 1011 0101 1101 0100 0110 0010


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