FLOATING POINT Meaning and
Definition
-
Floating point is a numerical representation method used to store and manipulate numbers that have a fractional component. In computer systems, floating point numbers are commonly used to handle real numbers, where the decimal point can appear at any position. It is a way to approximate real numbers in a format that can be easily processed by computers.
A floating point number typically comprises three components: a sign bit, an exponent, and a fraction. The sign bit determines whether the number is positive or negative, while the exponent represents the scaling factor. The fraction, also known as the mantissa or significand, represents the actual value in binary form. The combination of these components allows for a wide range of numbers with different magnitudes and precision.
The term "floating point" arises from the fact that the position of the decimal point is not fixed, and it can "float" to accommodate numbers of varying magnitudes. This flexibility is a distinguishing feature of floating point representation.
Floating point numbers are widely used in scientific and engineering computations where a high degree of precision is required. However, it is important to note that floating point arithmetic is not always exact due to the limited precision of computer hardware. Therefore, when performing calculations with floating point numbers, there is a potential for rounding errors and loss of precision, which must be taken into account to ensure accurate results.
Common Misspellings for FLOATING POINT
- floting-point
- floatng-point
- floatingpoint
- floatting-point
- dloating point
- cloating point
- vloating point
- gloating point
- tloating point
- rloating point
- fkoating point
- fpoating point
- fooating point
- fliating point
- flkating point
- fllating point
- flpating point
- fl0ating point
- fl9ating point
- flozting point
- flosting point
Etymology of FLOATING POINT
The term "floating point" originated from the Latin word "fluctuare", meaning "to float" or "to fluctuate". In mathematics and computer science, the concept of floating-point representation for numbers refers to a method of encoding real numbers, allowing them to "float" or move along a range of values represented by a fraction and an exponent. The term was coined to describe the flexibility and ability to represent a wide range of values that float and fluctuate as compared to fixed-point representation.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
