A computer stores floating point numbers of size 1 byte, with 3 bits for the mantissa and 5 bits for the exponent. State what the effects would be on the stored numbers if instead 5 bits were used for the mantissa and 3 bits were used for the exponent.

By increasing the size of the mantissa, the accuracy of the stored numbers would increase. Decreasing the size of the exponent, however, would reduce the range of numbers that could be stored. The overall amount of storage needed for the number is unchanged, though, as the number would still require 1 byte storage.