Fixed-point number representation

Fixed position for the radix point .

Fxed number of digits to the left and right of the radix point

Need many digits to represent a practical range of numbers

.E.g., 2.64 in decimal .

A trillion (1 000 000 000 000) needs at least 40 bits to the left of the radix point 10¹²as is roughly 2⁴⁰

Very large or small numbers place greater demands on computer

very large:

mass of the earth: 5.98 x 10²⁴ kg

speed of light: 3.0 x 10⁸ ms^-1

very small:

charge on an electron: -1.60 x 10^-19C