An instruction is executed in round-for-reround mode wherein the permissible resultant value that is closest to and no greater in magnitude than the infinitely precise result is selected. If the selected value is not exact and the units digit of the selected value is either 0 or 5, then the digit is incremented by one and the selected value is delivered. In all other cases, the selected value is delivered.

A round-for-reround mode (preferably in a BID encoded Decimal format) of a floating point instruction prepares a result for later rounding to a variable number of digits by detecting that the least significant digit may be a 0, and if so changing it to 1 when the trailing digits are not all 0. A subsequent reround instruction is then able to round the result to any number of digits at least 2 fewer than the number of digits of the result. An optional embodiment saves a tag indicating the fact that the low order digit of the result is 0 or 5 if the trailing bits are non-zero in a tag field rather than modify the result. Another optional embodiment also saves a half-way-and-above indicator when the trailing digits represent a decimal with a most significant digit having a value of 5. An optional subsequent reround instruction is able to round the result to any number of digits fewer or equal to the number of digits of the result using the saved tags.

Setting or updating of floating point controls is managed. Floating point controls include controls used for floating point operations, such as rounding mode and/or other controls. Further, floating point controls include status associated with floating point operations, such as floating point exceptions and/or others. The management of the floating point controls includes efficiently updating the controls, while reducing costs associated therewith.

Setting or updating of floating point controls is managed. Floating point controls include controls used for floating point operations, such as rounding mode and/or other controls. Further, floating point controls include status associated with floating point operations, such as floating point exceptions and/or others. The management of the floating point controls includes efficiently updating the controls, while reducing costs associated therewith.

A round-for-reround mode (preferably in a BID encoded Decimal format) of a floating point instruction prepares a result for later rounding to a variable number of digits by detecting that the least significant digit may be a 0, and if so changing it to 1 when the trailing digits are not all 0. A subsequent reround instruction is then able to round the result to any number of digits at least 2 fewer than the number of digits of the result. An optional embodiment saves a tag indicating the fact that the low order digit of the result is 0 or 5 if the trailing bits are non-zero in a tag field rather than modify the result. Another optional embodiment also saves a half-way-and-above indicator when the trailing digits represent a decimal with a most significant digit having a value of 5. An optional subsequent reround instruction is able to round the result to any number of digits fewer or equal to the number of digits of the result using the saved tags.

A round-for-reround mode (preferably in a BID encoded Decimal format) of a floating point instruction prepares a result for later rounding to a variable number of digits by detecting that the least significant digit may be a 0, and if so changing it to 1 when the trailing digits are not all 0. A subsequent reround instruction is then able to round the result to any number of digits at least 2 fewer than the number of digits of the result. An optional embodiment saves a tag indicating the fact that the low order digit of the result is 0 or 5 if the trailing bits are non-zero in a tag field rather than modify the result. Another optional embodiment also saves a half-way-and-above indicator when the trailing digits represent a decimal with a most significant digit having a value of 5. An optional subsequent reround instruction is able to round the result to any number of digits fewer or equal to the number of digits of the result using the saved tags.

An artificial neural network (ANN) apparatus can include processing component circuitry that receives linear inputs, and removes linearity from the one or more linear inputs based on an S-shaped saturating activation function that generates a continuous non-linear output. The neurons of the ANN comprise digital bit-wise components configured to transform the linear inputs into the continuous non-linear output.

A round-for-reround mode (preferably in a BID encoded Decimal format) of a floating point instruction prepares a result for later rounding to a variable number of digits by detecting that the least significant digit may be a 0, and if so changing it to 1 when the trailing digits are not all 0. A subsequent reround instruction is then able to round the result to any number of digits at least 2 fewer than the number of digits of the result. An optional embodiment saves a tag indicating the fact that the low order digit of the result is 0 or 5 if the trailing bits are non-zero in a tag field rather than modify the result. Another optional embodiment also saves a half-way-and-above indicator when the trailing digits represent a decimal with a most significant digit having a value of 5. An optional subsequent reround instruction is able to round the result to any number of digits fewer or equal to the number of digits of the result using the saved tags.

Setting or updating of floating point controls is managed. Floating point controls include controls used for floating point operations, such as rounding mode and/or other controls. Further, floating point controls include status associated with floating point operations, such as floating point exceptions and/or others. The management of the floating point controls includes efficiently updating the controls, while reducing costs associated therewith.

Setting or updating of floating point controls is managed. Floating point controls include controls used for floating point operations, such as rounding mode and/or other controls. Further, floating point controls include status associated with floating point operations, such as floating point exceptions and/or others. The management of the floating point controls includes efficiently updating the controls, while reducing costs associated therewith.