Correct Way to Obtain The Most Negative Double

Question

Is this the correct way to obtain the most negative double in Java?

double v = -Double.MAX_VALUE; 

Answer 1

Assuming you mean the largest negative, non-infinite number, sounds correct because, for floating point numbers in 64-bit IEEE 754 floating point (which is what Java uses for doubles):

• The size of the number is stored in one part of the binary rep
• The sign of the number is stored in a separate part of the binary rep

Therefore: The largest representable negative number would be the same as the largest representable positive number with the sign bit flipped to indicate a negative number.

Answer 2

Nope, it's Double.NEGATIVE_INFINITY.