How does the excess-x representation for exponents of the scale factor in the floating- point number representation of Figure 6.24a facilitate the comparison of the relative sizes of two floating-point numbers? (Hint: Assume that a combinational logic network that compares the relative sizes of two, 32-bit, unsigned integers is available. Use this network, along with external logic gates, as necessary, to design the required network for the comparison of floating-point numbers.)

LO1