Floating-point division algorithms for an x86 microprocessor with a rectangular multiplier

Floating-point division is an important operation in scientific computing and multimedia applications. This paper presents and compares two division algorithms for an times86 microprocessor, which utilizes a rectangular multiplier that is optimized for multimedia applications. The proposed division algorithms are based on Goldschmidt´s division algorithm and provide correctly rounded results for IEEE 754 single, double, and extended precision floating-point numbers. Compared to a previous Goldschmidt division algorithm, the fastest proposed algorithm requires 25% to 37% fewer cycles, while utilizing a multiplier that is roughly 2.5 times smaller.