= Significand
{title2=$m$}
{wiki}
The significant-digit factor $m$ in a <floating-point representation> $(-1)^s m\,\beta^e$, where $s$ is the sign <bit>, $\beta$ the radix and $e$ the <exponent>. For a normal positive binary <significand>, $1\leq m<2$, and the leading one need not be stored. In a <subnormal number>, the leading digit is zero at the minimum normal <exponent> scale. The <significand> is a numerical factor, distinct from the stored trailing fraction <bits> that encode part of it.
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