Meaning of "most significant digits" in the printf documentation

[Mukesh_Singh_Nick]

What is meant by the "most significant digits" in the following
statement?

<BLOCKQUOTE>
With %g and %G, the precision modifier determines the maximum number
of significant digits displayed.</BLOCKQUOTE>

The statement appears here: http://www.cppreference.com/stdio/printf.html

Also, what do we mean by the magnitude of a floating point number?

I understand that the magnitude of an integral is equal to its
absolute value. However, I do not understand the meaning of the
magnitude of a floating point.

For a citation, please note the sentence below:

<BLOCKQUOTE>A float number is typically a 32-bit quantity, with at
least six significant digits and magnitude generally between about
10^(-38) and 10^(+38).</BLOCKQUOTE>

Source: K & R, Page 9, Second Edition

 

[Ben Bacarisse]

What is meant by the "most significant digits" in the following
statement?

<BLOCKQUOTE>

Don't bother with markup like this. Usenet news is a plain text
medium. People sometimes use markers for humorous effect

With %g and %G, the precision modifier determines the maximum number
of significant digits displayed.</BLOCKQUOTE>

You say "most" at the top but the quote has "maximum" so I am i bit
confused about what is bothering you. The precision determines how
much of number gets represented. Obviously only the most significant
digits are used but you can say "no more than X digits". There may
be other stuff printed, because %g might use scientific notation, but
the precision limits the number of significant digits printed. The
number you give is a maximum because fewer may be sufficient:

4.0e30 using %.3g prints "4e+30"
4.3e30 using %.1g prints "4e+30"
4.3e30 using %.2g prints "4.1e+30"

The statement appears here:
http://www.cppreference.com/stdio/printf.html

Look like a C++ reference. This may lead you astray if you are using
it for C. Read the C FAQ instead: http://c-faq.com/

Also, what do we mean by the magnitude of a floating point number?

I understand that the magnitude of an integral is equal to its
absolute value. However, I do not understand the meaning of the
magnitude of a floating point.

It usually means exactly the same -- the absolute value. It certainly
does in the quote you cite from K&R:

 

[Chris Torek]

What is meant by the "most significant digits" in [printf %g formats]

Actually, it is just "significant digits", with no "most"
qualifier.

For much about this and about your earlier question about floating
point, see <http://web.torek.net/torek/c/numbers.html>.