A positive real number $z$ may be written as the sum of smaller integers ``digits'' $d_i$ multiplied by powers of a base $\beta$.
\begin{align}
- z &= d_0 \beta^0 + d_1 \beta^1 + d_2 \beta^2 + \text{ ...} = \displaystyle\sum_{i=-\infty}^{\infty} d_i \beta^{i}\label{fixedpointZ}
+ z &= \text{... } + d_{-1} \beta^{-1} + d_0 \beta^0 + d_1 \beta^1 + \text{ ...} = \displaystyle\sum_{i=-\infty}^{\infty} d_i \beta^{i}\label{fixedpointZ}
\end{align}
Where each digit $d_i < \beta$. A set of $\beta$ unique symbols are used to represent values of $d_i$.
A seperate sign '-' can be used to represent negative reals using equation \eqref{fixedpointZ}.