Implementing decimal floating-point arithmetic through binary: Some suggestions

We propose several algorithms and provide some related results that make it possible to implement decimal floating-point arithmetic on a processor that does not have decimal operators, using the available binary floatingpoint functions. In this preliminary study, we focus on round-to-nearest mode only. We show that several functions in decimal32 and decimal64 arithmetic can be implemented using binary64 and binary128 floating-point arithmetic, respectively. Specifically, we discuss the decimal square root and some transcendental functions. We also consider radix conversion algorithms. Keywords-floating-point arithmetic ; decimal floating-point arithmetic; square root; transcendental functions; radix conversion.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2010
• Where: ASAP
• Authors: Nicolas Brisebarre, Nicolas Louvet, Érik Martin-Dorel, Jean-Michel Muller, Adrien Panhaleux, Milos D. Ercegovac
• Keywords: ASAP 2010, Decimal Floating-point Arithmetic, Floating-Point Arithmetic, Hardware, Transcendental Functions