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The mantissa - also known as a significand or coefficient - is the part of a floating-point number which contains the significant digits of that number.

In the common IEEE 754 floating point standard, the mantissa is represented by 53 bits of a 64-bit value (double) and 24 bits of a 32-bit value (single).

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Q: What is the mantissa of a floating point number?
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How are floating point numbers handled as binary numbers?

Floating point numbers are typically stored as numbers in scientific notation, but in base 2. A certain number of bits represent the mantissa, other bits represent the exponent. - This is a highly simplified explanation; there are several complications in the IEEE floating point format (or other similar formats).Floating point numbers are typically stored as numbers in scientific notation, but in base 2. A certain number of bits represent the mantissa, other bits represent the exponent. - This is a highly simplified explanation; there are several complications in the IEEE floating point format (or other similar formats).Floating point numbers are typically stored as numbers in scientific notation, but in base 2. A certain number of bits represent the mantissa, other bits represent the exponent. - This is a highly simplified explanation; there are several complications in the IEEE floating point format (or other similar formats).Floating point numbers are typically stored as numbers in scientific notation, but in base 2. A certain number of bits represent the mantissa, other bits represent the exponent. - This is a highly simplified explanation; there are several complications in the IEEE floating point format (or other similar formats).


What is the effect of increasing the number of bytes allocated to the mantissa?

The mantissa holds the bits which represent the number, increasing the number of bytes for the mantissa increases the number of bits for the mantissa and so increases the size of the number which can be accurately held, ie it increases the accuracy of the stored number.


When writing a number in scientific notation how many digits should be left on the decimal point?

Only on digit may be to the left of the decimal point. The mantissa must be a number in the interval [0, 10).


What is a number that a scientific notation must have?

It must have a mantissa.


How do scientist write in scientific notation?

Scientific notation is a way of representing numbers, usually very large or very small, in the forma*10^b where 1

Related questions

How are floating point numbers handled as binary numbers?

Floating point numbers are typically stored as numbers in scientific notation, but in base 2. A certain number of bits represent the mantissa, other bits represent the exponent. - This is a highly simplified explanation; there are several complications in the IEEE floating point format (or other similar formats).Floating point numbers are typically stored as numbers in scientific notation, but in base 2. A certain number of bits represent the mantissa, other bits represent the exponent. - This is a highly simplified explanation; there are several complications in the IEEE floating point format (or other similar formats).Floating point numbers are typically stored as numbers in scientific notation, but in base 2. A certain number of bits represent the mantissa, other bits represent the exponent. - This is a highly simplified explanation; there are several complications in the IEEE floating point format (or other similar formats).Floating point numbers are typically stored as numbers in scientific notation, but in base 2. A certain number of bits represent the mantissa, other bits represent the exponent. - This is a highly simplified explanation; there are several complications in the IEEE floating point format (or other similar formats).


What is the difference between floating point and fixed point processor?

in fixed point processor there is no separate mantissa and exponent part usually the nuumber can be represented from -1.000000to 1.0000000 wheras in floating point processor mantissa and exponent are separated so you can increase the range of values by compromising accuracy


Clearly explain the functions that the mantissa and exponent have in floating point number?

Think of the floating-point number as a number in scientific notation, for example, 5.3 x 106 (i.e., 5.3 millions). In this example, 5.3 is the mantissa, whereas 6 is the exponent. The situation is slightly more complicated, in that floating-point numbers used in computers are stored internally in binary. Some precision can be lost when converting between decimal and binary.Think of the floating-point number as a number in scientific notation, for example, 5.3 x 106 (i.e., 5.3 millions). In this example, 5.3 is the mantissa, whereas 6 is the exponent. The situation is slightly more complicated, in that floating-point numbers used in computers are stored internally in binary. Some precision can be lost when converting between decimal and binary.Think of the floating-point number as a number in scientific notation, for example, 5.3 x 106 (i.e., 5.3 millions). In this example, 5.3 is the mantissa, whereas 6 is the exponent. The situation is slightly more complicated, in that floating-point numbers used in computers are stored internally in binary. Some precision can be lost when converting between decimal and binary.Think of the floating-point number as a number in scientific notation, for example, 5.3 x 106 (i.e., 5.3 millions). In this example, 5.3 is the mantissa, whereas 6 is the exponent. The situation is slightly more complicated, in that floating-point numbers used in computers are stored internally in binary. Some precision can be lost when converting between decimal and binary.


What is the effect of increasing the number of bytes allocated to the mantissa?

The mantissa holds the bits which represent the number, increasing the number of bytes for the mantissa increases the number of bits for the mantissa and so increases the size of the number which can be accurately held, ie it increases the accuracy of the stored number.


What is floating point error?

A method for storing and calculating numbers in which the decimal points do not line up as in fixed point numbers. The significant digits are stored as a unit called the "mantissa," and the location of the radix point (decimal point in base 10) is stored in a separate unit called the "exponent." Floating point methods are used for calculating a large range of numbers quickly. Floating point operations can be implemented in hardware (math coprocessor), or they can be done in software. In large systems, they can also be performed in a separate floating point processor that is connected to the main processor via a channel.


What are the 3 parts of a floating part number?

If you mean floating point number, they are significand, base and exponent.


Is floating point is exponentional number?

Yes.Yes.Yes.Yes.


What is the floating point unit used for on the processor system?

"Floating Point" refers to the decimal point. Since there can be any number of digits before and after the decimal, the point "floats". The floating point unit performs arithmetic operations on decimal numbers.


When writing a number in scientific notation how many digits should be left on the decimal point?

Only on digit may be to the left of the decimal point. The mantissa must be a number in the interval [0, 10).


What is a sign as it relates to floating numbers?

In floating point numbers, the sign can refer to the sign of the mantissa, or it can refer to the sign of the exponent. In the former case, that is similar to the distinction between 1.34x1013 and -1.34x1013. In the latter case, the sign refers to the direction that the decimal point is shifted, i.e. left for minus and right for plus. For example, 1.34x103 is 1340, while 1.34x10-3 is 0.00134.


What are the three parts of a floating-point number?

Assuming you're asking about IEEE-754 floating-point numbers, then the three parts are base, digits, and exponent.


What is a number that a scientific notation must have?

It must have a mantissa.