Significant figures begin at the 1st non zero digit, right to left. "Leading zeros" are never significant figures.Don't quit your day job to become a mathematician. In that case leading zeros are significant, otherwise .01, .0001, and .000001 would all be equivalent
In the example .01 (1×10^-2), .0001 (1×10^-4), .000001 (1×10^-6), all have the same amount of significant figures, one.
.000000003 (3×10^-9) has one significant figure.
In chemistry, physics, electronics, we most always worked to 3 significant figures.
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