The primary argument number (as well as the resulting rounded number) is first represented in exponential notation "x" = "s"·"a"·"m"·"b", such that the sign "s" is either +1 or −1, the absolute mantissa "a" is restricted to the half-open positive interval [1/"b",1), and the exponent "c" is any (positive or negative) integer. In that representation, all significant digits are in the fractional part of the absolute mantissa whose integer part is always zero.