A floating point unit (FPU) for processing denormal numbers in floating point notation, a method of processing such numbers in an FPU and a computer system employing the FPU or the method. In one embodiment, the FPU includes: (1) a load unit that receives a denormal number having an exponent portion of a standard length from a source without the FPU and transforms the denormal number into a normalized number having an exponent portion of an expanded length greater than the standard length, (2) a floating point execution core, coupled to the load unit, that processes the normalized number at least once to yield a processed normalized number, the expanded length of the exponent portion allowing the processed normalized number to remain normal during processing thereof and (3) a store unit, coupled to the floating point execution core, that receives the processed normalized number and transforms the processed normalized number back into a denormal number having an exponent portion of the standard length.