Write down the bit pattern assuming that we are using base 30 numbers in the mantissa instead of base 2. (Base 16 numbers use the symbols 0–9 and A–F. Base 30 numbers would use 0–9 and A–T.) Assume there are 20 bits, and you do not need to normalize. Is this representation exact? Do you see any advantage to using this approach?

Binary numbers are used in the mantissa field, but they do not have to be. IBM used base 16 numbers, for example, in some of their floating point formats. There are other approaches that are possible as well, each with their own particular advantages and disadvantages. The following table shows fractions to be represented in various floating point formats.

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1/3 b. 1/10 a.