-- is e, then the significand is the integer nearest xb^(-e),
-- where b is the floating-point radix. We start with a good
-- guess for e, and if it is correct, the exponent of the
-- is e, then the significand is the integer nearest xb^(-e),
-- where b is the floating-point radix. We start with a good
-- guess for e, and if it is correct, the exponent of the