# Converting 0.1 to binary 64 bit double

I want to convert the decimal number 0.1 to binary 64 bit double. So I do it like that:

$$0.1_{10} = 0.00011001100110011001100110011001100110011001100110011001100110... \times 2^0$$

Represent it in the scientific form:

$$1.1001100110011001100110011001100110011001100110011001100110... \times 2^{-4}$$

Now 64 bit IEEE754 float allows 52 bits for mantissa, so I need to round the number to 52 bits.

$$1.\underbrace{1001100110011001100110011001100110011001100110011001}_{52 bits}100110... \times 2^{-4}$$

So I have to round to either:

smaller number (truncated)

$$1.1001100110011001100110011001100110011001100110011001$$

larger number (original number plus 1)

$$1.1001100110011001100110011001100110011001100110011010$$

Since the 53 bit is 1, I'm rounding up to the larger number. So I have mantissa part ready. Then I'm calculating biased exponent (11 bits for the exponent):

$$2^{11-1} -1 = 1023\\ 1023-4=1019\\ 1019_{10} = 1111111011_2$$

So the final representation should be: $$\underbrace{0}_{sign}\underbrace{01111111011}_{exponent}\underbrace{1001100110011001100110011001100110011001100110011010}_{mantissa}$$

Is this correct?

• sorry, didn't understand what you meant – Max Koretskyi May 19 '16 at 12:35
• no problem, thanks anyways) – Max Koretskyi May 19 '16 at 13:05
• I think you meant $0.1_2$ in the second line, not $0.1_{10}$. – Integral May 19 '16 at 14:25
• No, it's in base-10 system – Max Koretskyi May 19 '16 at 14:29
• This is strange, because $0.1$ in base $10$ is $0.1$. itself. – Integral May 19 '16 at 14:38

Short C code:

double x = 0.1;
long long n = *(long long*)&x;
printf("%llX",n);


Gives 3FB999999999999A, which is equivalent to:

0011 1111 1011 1001 1001 1001 1001 1001 1001 1001 1001 1001 1001 1001 1001 1010


For the record, due to the strict aliasing rule, I cannot recommend this programming method.

• Well, it seems that I've done it right then) – Max Koretskyi May 19 '16 at 12:40
• @Maximus: Seems so :) – barak manos May 19 '16 at 12:43