ABSTRACT
This chapter will focus on the IEEE floating-point format and its variants, which is the standard computer representation for real numbers. It will cover the associated bitwise formats, basic operations, features, and limitations. By design, we'll begin with general mathematical discussions of number representation and transition toward implementationrelated topics of specific relevance to 3D programmers. Most of the chapter will be spent on the ubiquitous IEEE floating-point numbers, especially discussions of floating-point limitations that often cause issues in 3D pipelines. It will also present a brief case study of floating-point-related performance issues in a real application.
