Scientific notation and significant figures

For numbers less than 11, the number of zeros appear in the exponent as a negative number.

0.00745=7.45×10−3{\color{blue}0.00}745 = 7.45 \times 10^{\color{blue}-3}

For numbers greater than 11, the number of digits between the first digit and the decimal point appear in the exponent as a positive number.

180000=1.8×1051{\color{green}80000} = 1.8 \times 10^{\color{green}5}

Do not use computer notations such as 7.45E−37.45\text{E}-3 or 1.8E51.8\text{E}5 on assessments.

The number of significant figures a number has is the number of digits in the scientific notation. This means 2.07×1052.07 \times 10^5 has three significant figures, but 2.070×1052.070 \times 10^5 has four.

When using a calculator, store all intermediate values on the calculator, with ANS or a letter storage, then round the final answer correct to at least three correct significant figures. The answer does not need to be in scientific notation.

Unless specified otherwise, all given quantities in problems have an infinite number of significant figures. This means in math, you are not expected to propagate significant figures.

If the answer can only be an integer, such as the quantity of some items, nn in SL binomial distribution, the number of compounding periods in compound interest; or an exact number (like π3\frac\pi3), then report the answer in full.