IEEE machine

An IEEE machine is a computer implementing the IEEE 754 floating point standard for calculations involving numbers that are not integers. This includes almost all modern computers. The Intel 8087 processor, introduced in 1980, used the IEEE standard, and all subsequent IBM PC models with floating point capabilities (including the Pentium) are therefore IEEE machines (with the exception of course of those Pentiums produced in 1993 and 1994 suffering from the Pentium FDIV bug).
Floating Point Numbers
The term floating point derives from the fact that the decimal point of a non-integral number is not fixed. It can "float" anywhere based on the magnitude of the power of ten associated with the number.
There have been several definitions of floating point arithmetic. The scientific definitions have come from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Standard 754 relates to floating point arithmetic. The standard used today is the IEEE 754-2008 edition which supersedes both the initial IEEE 754-1985 definition and the associated IEEE 854-1987 standard.
 
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