Oracle PL/SQL Tutorial/Numerical Math Functions/to binary double

v_double_nr:= to_binary_double(numeric variable)

   <source lang="sql">

SQL> SQL> set timing on SQL> SQL> declare

 2      v_nr number;
 3  begin
 4      for i in 1..1000000 loop
 5          v_nr:=sqrt(i);
 6      end loop;
 7  end;
 8  /

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed. Elapsed: 00:00:01.54 SQL> SQL> declare

 2      v_nr binary_float;
 3  begin
 4      for i in 1..1000000 loop
 5          v_nr:=sqrt(to_binary_float(i));
 6      end loop;
 7  end;
 8  /

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed. Elapsed: 00:00:00.51 SQL> SQL> set timing off SQL></source>