What are: floating-point and fixed-point systems ?

[uwi2k2]

hi,

i just came across the therm:
'floating-point and fixed-point systems'
can anybody explain what it is in open gl ?

thanx
uwi2k2

[Aleksandar]

Normalized integers are treated as fixed-point numbers usually in 16.16 format (16 of 32 bits define decimal value).

Conversion from fixed to floating-point and vice versa is defined in:
The OpenGL Graphics System: A Specification
(Version 4.2 (Core Profile) - August 22, 2011)
Pg.11-12.