What does negative zero mean?

Definitions for negative zero
neg·a·tive ze·ro

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word negative zero.

Wiktionary

  1. negative zeronoun

    A signed magnitude representation of zero in which the sign bit indicates a negative number.

Wikipedia

  1. negative zero

    Signed zero is zero with an associated sign. In ordinary arithmetic, the number 0 does not have a sign, so that −0, +0 and 0 are identical. However, in computing, some number representations allow for the existence of two zeros, often denoted by −0 (negative zero) and +0 (positive zero), regarded as equal by the numerical comparison operations but with possible different behaviors in particular operations. This occurs in the sign-magnitude and ones' complement signed number representations for integers, and in most floating-point number representations. The number 0 is usually encoded as +0, but can be represented by either +0 or −0. The IEEE 754 standard for floating-point arithmetic (presently used by most computers and programming languages that support floating-point numbers) requires both +0 and −0. Real arithmetic with signed zeros can be considered a variant of the extended real number line such that 1/−0 = −∞ and 1/+0 = +∞; division is only undefined for ±0/±0 and ±∞/±∞. Negatively signed zero echoes the mathematical analysis concept of approaching 0 from below as a one-sided limit, which may be denoted by x → 0−, x → 0−, or x → ↑0. The notation "−0" may be used informally to denote a negative number that has been rounded to zero. The concept of negative zero also has some theoretical applications in statistical mechanics and other disciplines. It is claimed that the inclusion of signed zero in IEEE 754 makes it much easier to achieve numerical accuracy in some critical problems, in particular when computing with complex elementary functions. On the other hand, the concept of signed zero runs contrary to the usual assumption made in mathematics that negative zero is the same value as zero. Representations that allow negative zero can be a source of errors in programs, if software developers do not take into account that while the two zero representations behave as equal under numeric comparisons, they yield different results in some operations.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of negative zero in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of negative zero in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3


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"negative zero." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 11 May 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/negative+zero>.

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