floating-point
|float-ing-point|
🇺🇸
/ˈfloʊtɪŋ pɔɪnt/
🇬🇧
/ˈfləʊtɪŋ pɔɪnt/
numerical representation
Etymology
'floating-point' originates from the concept of 'floating' in mathematics, where the decimal point can 'float' to different positions depending on the value of the number.
The term 'floating-point' was adopted in the 20th century as computing technology advanced and required a method to handle a wide range of numerical values efficiently.
Initially, it referred to the mathematical concept of a movable decimal point, but over time it evolved into its current meaning related to computer science and numerical representation.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
referring to a method of representing real numbers in a way that can support a wide range of values by using a fixed number of significant digits and an exponent.
The floating-point arithmetic is crucial for scientific calculations.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45