title: Difference between Python float and numpy float32
body: <p>What is the difference between the built in <code>float</code> and <code>numpy.float32</code>?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Example</strong></p>
  
  <pre><code>a = 58682.7578125
  print type(a)
  print a
  print type(numpy.float32(a))
  print numpy.float32(a)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Output:</p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;type 'float'&gt;
  58682.7578125
  &lt;type 'numpy.float32'&gt;
  58682.8
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I've found <a href="http://docs.scipy.org/doc/numpy/user/basics.types.html" rel="noreferrer">here</a> that <code>numpy.float32</code> is:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>float32   Single precision float: sign bit, 8 bits exponent, 23 bits
    mantissa</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>didn't find what the built in <code>float</code> format is.</p>