Floatingpoint

1 definition found

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  floating-point
       
           A number representation consisting of a
          {mantissa}, M, an {exponent}, E, and an (assumed) {radix} (or
          "base") .  The number represented is M*R^E where R is the
          radix - usually ten but sometimes 2.


       
          Many different representations are used for the mantissa and
          exponent themselves.  The {IEEE} specify a {standard}
          representation which is used by many hardware floating-point
          systems.
       
          See also {floating-point accelerator}, {floating-point unit}.
       
          {Normalisation} is the process of converting a floating point
          number into {canonical} form where any number other than zero
          has a mantissa whose first digit is non-zero.
       
          Opposite: {fixed-point}.
       
          (1995-03-21)