I've read about the difference between double precision and single precision. However, in most cases, float and double seem to be interchangeable, i.e. using one or the other does not seem to affec...
This is the reason why we call them "floating point numbers" - we allow the decimal point to "float" depending on how big the number that we want to write is. Let's give an example in decimal notation. Suppose that you are given 5 cells to write down a number: _ _ _ _ _ . If you don't use decimal points, then you can represent numbers from 0 to ...
The values for the float data type come from having 32 bits in total to represent the number which are allocated like this: 1 bit: sign bit 8 bits: exponent p 23 bits: mantissa The exponent is stored as p + BIAS where the BIAS is 127, the mantissa has 23 bits and a 24th hidden bit that is assumed 1. This hidden bit is the most significant bit (MSB) of the mantissa and the exponent must be ...
Note that float can approximately represent the latter and still smaller values - it's just about 7 decimals of precision after the first nonzero digit! If you're going to use a fixed epsilon, you should really choose it according to the requirements of the particular piece of code where you use it.
Just wondering over here, what is the point of having a variable store an infinite value in a program? Is there any actual use and is there any case where it would be preferable to use foo = float(...
The float type matches the IEC 60559 single format. The double type matches the IEC 60559 double format. The long double type matches an IEC 60559 extended format. in C++, use the std::numeric_limits<float>::is_iec559 constants I've written some guides on IEEE-754 at: In Java, what does NaN mean? What is a subnormal floating point number?
Why do some numbers lose accuracy when stored as floating point numbers? For example, the decimal number 9.2 can be expressed exactly as a ratio of two decimal integers (92/10), both of which can be
