<Dd> fraction = . 01000.... </Dd> <P> IEEE 754 adds a bias to the exponent so that numbers can in many cases be compared conveniently by the same hardware that compares signed 2's - complement integers . Using a biased exponent, the lesser of two positive floating - point numbers will come out "less than" the greater following the same ordering as for sign and magnitude integers . If two floating - point numbers have different signs, the sign - and - magnitude comparison also works with biased exponents . However, if both biased - exponent floating - point numbers are negative, then the ordering must be reversed . If the exponent were represented as, say, a 2's - complement number, comparison to see which of two numbers is greater would not be as convenient . </P> <P> The leading 1 bit is omitted since all numbers except zero start with a leading 1; the leading 1 is implicit and doesn't actually need to be stored which gives an extra bit of precision for "free ." </P> <P> The number zero is represented specially: </P>

Why is the 1 digit to the left of the binary point not stored in ieee 754 format
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