The decimal place accuracy of a number is the number of digits to the right of the decimal point. The decimal point is a period written between the digits of a number. If there is no decimal point, it is understood to be after the last digit on the right and there is no place (zero place) accuracy.
The significant digits of a number are those digits that are most accurate. If a number has no place accuracy and there is no string of zeroes ending the number on the right, all the digits are significant. If a number has no place accuracy and there is a string of zeroes ending the number on the right, the significant digits are those digits to the left of the string of zeroes. If a number has a decimal point, the significant digits are the digits starting from the first non-zero number on the left to the last digit written at the right end. In either case the number of significant digits is just the count of these digits.
Decimal notation is the regular written format for a number. Scientific notation of a number just writes the significant digits followed by an appropriate power of ten.
The most common form of scientific notation inserts a decimal point after the first significant digit, follows the significant digits with times, "x", and then 10 to a power. If the original number is at least one, the power is the number of digits between the decimal point and the first number on the left. If the number is less than one, the power is the negative of the number of digits to the right of the decimal point up to and including the first non-zero number.
Calculators and computer software sometimes write scientific notation with the significant digits followed by the letter "E" and then the power of 10, without writing the base. A decimal point is usually inserted after the first significant digit.
Step-by-step explanation:
