The Choice of Base A digital computer is considered, whose memory words are composed on N r-state devices plus two sign bits (two state devices). The choice of base B for the internal representation of floating-point numbers on such a computer is discussed. It is shown that in a certain sense B= r is best. CACM October, 1969 Brown, W. S. Richman, P. L. floating-point, accuracy, base choice, number representations 5.11 6.32 CA691003 JB February 15, 1978 3:33 PM 1783 4 1843 1843 4 1843 1843 4 1843 1634 5 1843 1783 5 1843 1843 5 1843 1843 5 1843 1843 5 1843