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25.memory Representation of Float Data Type in C

The document discusses how float data is stored in memory in C/C++. It is stored in 32 bits with the most significant 8 bits used for the exponent, the next most significant 23 bits for the mantissa, and the least significant bit to signify the sign of the mantissa. The exponent is biased by 127 to allow for positive and negative exponents. An example demonstrates how the float value -10.3f would be broken down and stored bit-by-bit in memory.

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Ganesh Nimbolkar
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140 views4 pages

25.memory Representation of Float Data Type in C

The document discusses how float data is stored in memory in C/C++. It is stored in 32 bits with the most significant 8 bits used for the exponent, the next most significant 23 bits for the mantissa, and the least significant bit to signify the sign of the mantissa. The exponent is biased by 127 to allow for positive and negative exponents. An example demonstrates how the float value -10.3f would be broken down and stored bit-by-bit in memory.

Uploaded by

Ganesh Nimbolkar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Memory representation of float data type in c

(Both in Turbo c compiler and Linux gcc compiler) Float numbers are stored in exponential form i.e. (Mantissa)*10^ (Exponent) Here * indicates multiplication and ^ indicates power. In memory only Mantissa and Exponent is stored not *, 10 and ^. Total size of float data type: 32 bit Those bits are used in following manner: Exponent bit: 8 Mantissa bit: 24 Mantissa is signed number, so 24 bit are used as: Mantissa_sign bit: 1 Mantisaa_data bit: 23 For only mantissa: Mantissa_sign bit will zero if number is positive and Mantissa_sign bit will one if number is negative. Exponent is also signed number, So 8 bit are used as: Exponent_sign bit: 1 Exponent_data bit: 7 Following memory. figure illustrate how floating point number is stored in

Five important rules: Rule 1: To find the mantissa and exponent, we convert data into scientific form. Rule 2: Before the storing of exponent, 127 is added to exponent. Rule 3: Exponent is stored in memory in first byte from right to left side. Rule 4: If exponent will negative number it will be stored in 2s complement form. Rule 5: Mantissa is stored in the memory in second byte onward from right to left side. Example: Memory representation of: float a = -10.3f;

For this you have to follow following steps: step1: convert the number (10.3) into binary form Binary value of 10.3 is: 1010.0100110011001100110011001100110011 step2: convert the above binary number in the scientific form. Scientific form of 1010.0100110011001100110011001100110011= 1.01001001100110011001100 11001100110011*10^3 Note: First digit i.e. 1, decimal point symbol, base of power i.e. 10, power symbol ^ and multiplication symbol * are not stored in the memory. Step3: find exponent and mantissa and signed bit Mantissa_data bit in binary = 0100100 11001100 11001101 (Only first 23 bit from left side) Mantissa_sign bit: 1 (Since it is a negative number) Exponent in decimal: 3 Question: Why we have taken right most bit of mantissa_data bit one instead of zero? Step 5: Add 127 in the exponent and convert in the binary number form. (Why 127? since size of exponent_data bit is 7 and maximum possible number in seven bit will 1111111 in binary or 127 in decimal)

Exponent= 127+3=130 Binary value of 130 in eight bit: 1000001 0 Exponent_data bit: 1000001 (Take first seven bit from left side) Exponent_sign bit: 0 (Take rightmost bit) Step 6: Now store the Mantissa_data bit, Mantissa_sign bit, Exponent_data bit and Exponent_sign bit at appropriate location as shown in the following figure.

Note: Mantissa_data bits are stored from left Exponent_data bits are stored from right to left. How to check above memory representation is correct?

to

right

while

Answer: We will take one char pointer and visit each byte of a float number and observe the output. C program: #include<stdio.h> int main(){ int i; float f=-10.3f; char *p=(char *)&f; for(i=0;i<4;i++)

printf("%d return 0; } Output: -51 -52 Explanation: Binary value of Binary value of Binary value of Binary value of This is exactly figure.

",*p++);

36 -63 -51 in eight bit: -52 in eight bit: 36 in eight bit: -63 in eight bit: same as which we 11001101 11001100 00100100 11000001 have represented in memory in the above

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