33.3 + 33.3 is then 2^5 times: 1.0000101001100110011001100110011001100110011001100110 + 1.0000101001100110011001100110011001100110011001100110 --------------------------------------------------------- 10.0001010011001100110011001100110011001100110011001100 But that's too long for a double, so it's represented as 2^6 times 1.0000101001100110011001100110011001100110011001100110 33.4 + 33.3 is then 2^5 times: 1.0000101100110011001100110011001100110011001100110011 + 1.0000101001100110011001100110011001100110011001100110 --------------------------------------------------------- 10.0001010110011001100110011001100110011001100110011001 Now, smashing that into a double results in 2^6 times: 1.0000101011001100110011001100110011001100110011001100