We use scientific notation to deal with really big and really small numbers, especially when they are measurements. The precision (how close the number is to the actual measurement) is based on how many numbers are represented in the notation.
So a number with many decimal places times a power of ten is more precise than a number with only a few decimal places times a power of ten. 2.9 times 10 to the 8th power is less precise than 2.98334 times 10 to the 8th power.
We use a trailing zero to indicate that there are no further numbers: 3.0 times 10 to the 3rd power is 3000, whereas 3.238 times 10 to the 3rd power is 3238...etc.
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