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5.2: Floating-Point Data Type

  • Page ID
    29048
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    Floating Point

    The floating-point data type is a family of data types that act alike and differ only in the size of their domains (the allowable values). The floating-point family of data types represent number values with fractional parts. They are technically stored as two integer values: a mantissa and an exponent. The floating-point family has the same attributes and acts or behaves similarly in all programming languages. They can always store negative or positive values thus they always are signed; unlike the integer data type that could be unsigned. The domain for floating-point data types varies because they could represent very large numbers or very small numbers. Rather than talk about the actual values, we mention the precision. The more bytes of storage the larger the mantissa and exponent, thus more precision.

    The most often used floating-point family data type used in C++ is the double. By default, most compilers convert floating-point constants into the double data type for use in calculations. The double data type will store just about any number most beginning programmers will ever encounter.

    C++ Reserved Word double
    Represent Numbers with fractional parts
    Size Usually 8 parts
    Storage two parts (always treated together) a mantissa and an exponent
    Normal Signage Signed (negative and positive values)
    Domain (Values Allowed) ±1.7E-308 to ±1.7E308
    C++ syntax rule the presence of a decimal point means it's floating-point data

    Within C++ there are various reserved words that can be used to establish the size in bytes of a floating-point data item. More bytes mean more precision: (these values are from g++ 7.5.0)

    DATA TYPE SIZE (IN BYTES) RANGE
    float 4 1.17549e-38 to 3.40282e+38
    double 8 2.22507e-308 to 1.79769e+308
    long double 12 (some machines use only 10 bytes) 3.3621e-4932 to 1.18973e+4932

    The domain of each of the above data type options varies with the compiler being used and the computer. The domains vary because the byte size allocated to the data varies with the compiler and computer. This effect is known as being machine dependent.

    These variations of the floating-point family of data types are an annoyance in C++ for a beginning programmer. For a beginning programmer it is more important to understand the general attributes of the floating-point family that apply to most programming languages.

    Definitions

    Double
    The most often used floating-point family data type used in C++
    Precision
    The effect on the domain of floating-point values given a larger or smaller storage area in bytes.
    Mantissa Exponent
    The two integer parts of a floating-point value.

    Adapted from:
    "C++ Data Types" by Harsh Agarwal, Geeks for Geeks
    "Floating-Point Data Type" by Kenneth Leroy Busbee, (Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/303800f3-07f...93e8948c5@22.2) is licensed under CC BY 4.0

     


    This page titled 5.2: Floating-Point Data Type is shared under a CC BY-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Patrick McClanahan.