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Scientific notation and floating-point representation

Doug Kerr

Well-known member
Scientific notation is the convention in which we write numbers like this:

scientific_notation_01.gif


or, when working with restricted typographical capabilities, like this:

6.23 x 10^23

A derivative form, used in computer programming (as well as in circumstances of restricted typographical capabilities) would represent that number as:

6.23E23

or perhaps

6.23E+23

Floating point notation adapts the principles of these forms to the situation of the representation of numbers in binary form in computer memory, data files, and the like.

The story of these cousin systems is told in some detail in my new technical article, "Scientific Notation and Floating Point Representation", available here:

http://dougkerr.net/Pumpkin#Scientific_Floating

Best regards,

Doug
 
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