#include <stdio.h>

void printBits(int *x)
{
   int i;

   for ( i = 8*sizeof(int)-1; i >=0; i-- )
   {
      if ( *x & (1 << i) )
         putchar('1');
      else
         putchar('0');
   }
   putchar('\n');
}

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
   int   a, *p;
   float b, *q;


   b = 2.0;          // b = 00111111100000000000000000000000 !!!
   a = b;            // C detects type change: performs type conversion to int !

   printf("a = %d, b = %f\n", a, b);     // Conversion took place (implicitly)

   printf("\nThe bits in a = ");
   printBits( (int *) &a );
   printf("The bits in b = ");
   printBits( (int *) &b );
   printf("\n");

   /* ===========================================
      How to circumvent C's implicit conversion
      =========================================== */
   p = (int *)&b;    // Make p point to b 
   a = *p;	     // Access b as an int typed variable !

   printf("a = %d, b = %f\n", a, b);     // NO conversion !

   printf("\nThe bits in a = ");
   printBits((int *) &a);
   printf("The bits in b = ");
   printBits((int *) &b);
   printf("\n");
}