When determining the number of significant figures in a number, zeroes to the left of the decimal point are never counted.
a. true
b. false?

The number of significant figures in a number means the number of digits that actually have a meaning in the number and should be included in measurements.

Zeros are not counted in special cases, these cases are as follows:
1- When the zero is the first digit from the left followed by other digits before the decimal point 
Example: 02.5 , 009.3 (zeros are not counted here)
However, in a number as 30.3, the zero is definitely counted

2- When the zero is the last digit on the right after the decimal point
Example: 23.330 , 8.90 (zeros are not counted here)

Based on this, the above mentioned statement is false.
Since zeros are counted before the decimal point when they are not the leftmost digits 
counted in : 30.4
not counted in : 03.4

X> -2 is the simplified version.