Digit recurrence division with scaling and digit selection using intermediate value

A method of data processing to determine a quotient as a result of dividing a dividend by a divisor, the method comprising:

• scaling, using scaling circuitry, said dividend and said divisor by a factor to produce a scaled dividend and a scaled divisor;
• performing, using iterative circuitry, one or more iterations of a digit-recurrence division operation on said scaled dividend and said scaled divisor, each iteration producing a digit of said quotient and a remainder value, wherein said remainder value is provided as an input to said iterative circuitry for a subsequent iteration;
• and
• using, in a first iteration before said one or more iterations, an intermediate value produced during said scaling of said dividend, as an input to provide said digit of said quotient after said first iteration, wherein the first iteration is performed at least partly overlapping with the scaling of said dividend.

A data processing apparatus configured to perform a digit-recurrence division operation to determine a quotient as a result of dividing a dividend by a divisor, the data processing apparatus comprising:

• means for scaling said dividend and said divisor by a factor to produce a scaled dividend and a scaled divisor;
• means for performing one or more iterations of said digit-recurrence division operation on said scaled dividend and said scaled divisor, each iteration producing a digit of said quotient and a remainder value, wherein said remainder value is provided as an input for a subsequent iteration,
• means for performing a first iteration before said one or more iterations and to provide said digit of said quotient after said first iteration, wherein:
• said means for performing a first iteration is configured to receive, as an input, an intermediate value produced by said means for scaling while scaling said dividend, and
• operation of said means for performing a first iteration is configured to at least partly overlap with operation of said means for scaling.