Final answer:
To convert the decimal number 24 to binary floating-point format, we first write 24 in binary as 11000, then normalize it as 1.1000. The first three bits of the fractional part of the significand are '100'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks to find the first three bits of the fractional part of the significand of the decimal number 24 in binary floating-point format. First, we express the number in binary: 24 is 11000 in binary. In floating-point representation, this is normalized by moving the decimal point to the right of the first 1, resulting in the significand 1.1000. Since the question asks only for the fractional part of the significand and the first three bits, we look at the digits following the decimal point, which are 100. Therefore, the first three bits of the fractional part of the significand are '100'.