# numeric_limits::min_exponent

Visual Studio .NET 2003

Returns the maximum negative integral exponent that the floating-point type can represent as a finite value when a base of radix is raised to that power.

```static const int min_exponent = 0;
```

#### Return Value

The minimum integral radix-based exponent representable by the type.

#### Remarks

The member function is meaningful only for floating-point types. The min_exponent is the value FLT_MIN_EXP for type float.

#### Example

```// numeric_limits_min_exponent.cpp
// compile with: /EHsc
#include <iostream>
#include <limits>

using namespace std;

int main( )
{
cout << "The minimum radix-based exponent for type float is:  "
<< numeric_limits<float>::min_exponent
<< endl;
cout << "The minimum radix-based exponent for type double is:  "
<< numeric_limits<double>::min_exponent
<< endl;
cout << "The minimum radix-based exponent for type long double is:  "
<< numeric_limits<long double>::min_exponent
<< endl;
}
```

#### Output

```The minimum radix-based exponent for type float is:  -125
The minimum radix-based exponent for type double is:  -1021
The minimum radix-based exponent for type long double is:  -1021
```