Thread

1. gwbas1c · 1789737860 · focus · HN ↗

   I'm still trying to understand what a subnormal number is; IE, I'm looking for the TLDR so I know just enough to know if I'm using them and need to learn more.

   Unfortunately, the Wikipedia article, while probably being accurate, doesn't give a clear and concise answer.

   IE, is 0.0001 a subnormal? Or is it 0.000000000000000000001?

   1. tialaramex · 1789743126 · focus · HN ↗

      The 32-bit subnormals are all the non-zero 32-bit floating point values between but not including -0.000000000000000000000000000000000000011754943508222875079687365372222456778186655567720875215087517062784172594547271728515625 and +0.000000000000000000000000000000000000011754943508222875079687365372222456778186655567720875215087517062784172594547271728515625

      Does that help you?

      [Edited: correct decimal after noticing that my calculator defaulted to the wrong setting]

      [And again because I think there's a bug in the last few digits, so debugging that's a fun activity for the weekend]

      [And a third time because nope, those were correct and I can't type]

      1. gwbas1c · 1789746159 · focus · HN ↗

         Yes, that's a perfect explanation!

         (And thankfully, for when I work with small numbers, they are still much larger than that.)

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