Converting decimal scientific notation into binary floating point is nontrivial, but this conversion can be performed with the best possible accuracy without sacrificing efficiency. 1.

This paper introduces a precision and range independent tool for testing the compliance of hardware or software implementations of (multiprecision) floating-point arithmetic with the principles of the IEEE standards 754 and 854. The tool consists of a driver program, o#ering many options to test only specific aspects of the IEEE standards, and a large set of test vectors, encoded in a precision independent syntax to allow the testing of basic and extended hardware formats as well as multiprecision floating-point implementations.