All numeric data was 26-bit 2's complement integers (sometimes used as fixed-point numbers), either stored in the first two syllables of a word or in the accumulator.
The idea of floating-point representation over intrinsically integer fixed-point numbers, which consist purely of significand, is that expanding it with the exponent component achieves greater range.
To divide two fixed-point numbers, one takes the integer quotient of their underlying integers, and assumes that the scaling factor is the quotient of their scaling factors.
Because fixed-point numbers have limited precision, only a subset of real or rational numbers are exactly representable; other numbers can be represented only approximately.
To multiply two fixed-point numbers, it suffices to multiply the two underlying integers, and assume that the scaling factor of the result is the product of their scaling factors.
To approximate the greater range and precision of real numbers, we have to abandon signed integers and fixed-point numbers and go to a floating-point format.