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Glite Dictionary
fixed-point number

fixed-point number

7.9
A number written with the same number of digits after the decimal point
  • noun
  • /fɪkst pɔɪnt ˈnʌmbər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : número de punto fijo
  • The software converts decimal numbers to fixed-point numbers to ensure consistent precision across different calculations.

Examples

  • For many embedded systems, using a fixed-point number allows for faster calculations compared to floating-point numbers.

  • In digital signal processing, a fixed-point number is often preferred for its efficiency in representing precise values.

  • The internal representation is as a "bignum" fixed-point number multiplied by a power of two as well as a power of ten:

    Academic text (1999)

Surface Forms

fixed-point number singular
fixed-point numbers plural

Morphology

fixed-point + number

The phrase is built from transparent parts ('fixed' + 'point' + 'number') so a learner can roughly infer it refers to a number with a fixed decimal/point position, but the precise technical sense (allocation of digits to integer vs fractional parts and how representation works) requires domain-specific knowledge beyond B1. Because the overall concept is compositional yet specialized and not fully predictable from everyday meanings, it is best classified as semi-transparent.

Etymology

Fixed-point number comes from the simple image of a number whose point stays fixed in one place — the 'decimal point' does not move. So it means a number written with the 'decimal point' kept in one position, giving a fixed number of digits before and after the point.