A2 Computing

F453 Advanced Computing Theory Data Representation

Definitions | Tiju Thomas

MANTISSA

• Usually the first five bits in the floating point representation.

• Controls the accuracy of the number. More bits for the Mantissa

means that the accuracy will increase.

A2 Computing

F453 Advanced Computing Theory Data Representation

Definitions | Tiju Thomas

EXPONTENT

• Usually the last three bits in the floating point representation.

• Controls the range of the number.

A2 Computing

F453 Advanced Computing Theory Data Representation

Definitions | Tiju Thomas

OCTAL

• A form of representing numbers using a base 8 system. This allows

8⁸ numbers to be stored in an 8 bit byte.

A2 Computing

F453 Advanced Computing Theory Data Representation

Definitions | Tiju Thomas

OVERFLOW

• Occurs when you try and store a number in floating point that is too

large to store in the allocated amount of bits.

A2 Computing

F453 Advanced Computing Theory Data Representation

Definitions | Tiju Thomas

UNDERFLOW

• If you try and store a number that may be too small to store in the

allocated bits.

A2 Computing

F453 Advanced Computing Theory Data Representation

Definitions | Tiju Thomas

NORMALISING

• To give a single representation of any value. In order to give more

precision.

• To allow multiplication to be performed more accurately.