What Is the Range of Float Data Type in Python?

Float is a popular data type in Python that represents decimal numbers. It is commonly used for mathematical calculations that involve fractional values. The range of float data type in Python is quite vast, allowing you to work with both small and large floating-point numbers.

Float Data Type in Python

In Python, the float data type is used to store real numbers. These real numbers can be positive or negative and can have a fractional part.

To declare a variable of float data type, you can simply assign a decimal number to it. For example:

num = 3.14

The above code snippet declares a variable named “num” of float data type and assigns the value 3.14 to it.

Range of Float Data Type

The range of the float data type in Python depends on the platform and the implementation of Python you are using.

64-bit Floating-Point Numbers

• Precision: The 64-bit floating-point numbers, also known as double precision floating-point numbers, provide a high level of precision.
• Range: These numbers can represent values ranging from approximately -1.8 x 10³⁰⁸ to approximately 1.8 x 10³⁰⁸.

32-bit Floating-Point Numbers (Single Precision)

• Precision: The 32-bit floating-point numbers, also known as single precision floating-point numbers, provide a slightly lower level of precision compared to the 64-bit ones.
• Range: These numbers can represent values ranging from approximately -3.4 x 10³⁸ to approximately 3.4 x 10³⁸.

It’s important to note that Python uses the IEEE 754 floating-point standard for representing floating-point numbers.

Working with Float Data Type

To perform mathematical operations on float variables, you can use arithmetic operators such as addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (*), and division (/). For example:

a = 5.2
b = 2.1
sum = a + b
difference = a - b
product = a * b
quotient = a / b

In the above code snippet, we declare two float variables “a” and “b” and perform various arithmetic operations on them.

You can also convert other data types to float using the float() function. For example:

x = float(10)

The above code snippet converts the integer value 10 into a float value and assigns it to the variable “x”.

Summary

The float data type in Python is used to store decimal numbers with both positive and negative values. The range of the float data type depends on the platform and implementation of Python, but generally allows for a wide range of values. It’s important to keep in mind that Python follows the IEEE 754 floating-point standard for representing floating-point numbers.

To work with float variables, you can use arithmetic operators and convert other data types to floats using the float() function.

Understanding the range and capabilities of the float data type is essential for performing accurate mathematical calculations in Python.