Accuracy of Numbers and How You State Them

Back when I was an Instrument Man working for a Land Surveying Firm, I was spending most of my waking hours in the woods or on a construction site. I was shooting points using a Total Station, and Data Collector, along with all the other essential equipment like a Tripod, Bush Axe, Walkie-Talkie, and Canteen. I was taking notes on a construction site one day and I was still new to the job and the Party Chief noticed some of my notes were showing measured distances to be written with only one place past the decimal point (tenths). He quickly jotted down three numbers on his hand, 25, 25.0, and 25.00 and then asked me what the difference was between the three numbers. I was instantly thought that this has to be a trick question, I mean they are all the same values right? I asked him if it were a trick question and he said no its not. The three numbers are all different values to me he said. He told me that if I put 25.0 then it told him I had measured to the accuracy of only a tenth. He then said if I had put 25.00 then it would have known I went to the effort and had measured to two decimal places (hundredths). Instantly I knew what he was saying to me and I realized that I had not gone far enough with my note taking. Yes I was new on the job but quickly learned the accuracy of numbers and how they are stated (displayed) can make all the difference.