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Fixed point vs Floating point number

Asked 2011-09-23T05:53:57.990
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I just can't understand fixed point and floating point numbers due to hard to read definitions about them all over Google. But none that I have read provide a simple enough explanation of what they really are. Can I get a plain definition with example?

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A fixed point number just means that there are a fixed number of digits after the decimal point. A floating point number allows for a varying number of digits after the decimal point.

For example, if you have a way of storing numbers that requires exactly four digits after the decimal point, then it is fixed point. Without that restriction it is floating point.

Often, when fixed point is used, the programmer actually uses an integer and then makes the assumption that some of the digits are beyond the decimal point. For example, I might want to keep two digits of precision, so a value of 100 means actually means 1.00, 101 means 1.01, 12345 means 123.45, etc.

Floating point numbers are more general purpose because they can represent very small or very large numbers in the same way, but there is a small penalty in having to have extra storage for where the decimal place goes.

answered 2011-09-23T06:04:43.043

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