Rick,

You are most correct in your observations. This numeric illiteracy even has its own terminology: innumeracy.

There was a book with the same title:
Innumeracy : Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Social Consequences
by John Allen Paulos

(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/067972601...)

And now, I found, a website dedicated to the topic as well (http://innumeracy.com/)

Best regards,

Matthew Ian Loew
"Luck is the residue of design."
Branch Rickey

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I first came across innumercacy is a wonderful essay by Douglas R. Hofstadter in his book Metamagical Themas:  Questing for the Essence of Mind and Pattern, Basic Books, Inc., 1985.  The title of that particular essay is On Number Numbness..

To RDK, "three times as small" is an accepted English expression. So, at least, says the Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. See entry: time. It says, I quote: ... "(2): equal fractional parts of which an indicated number equal a comparative greater quantity <seven times smaller> <three times closer>".

On the "twice as cold" item, you are absolutely right, what would they say if the drop in temperature were from +10 to -10 degrees ? (smile)

Twice as cold is a statistical observation and as 85.6% of all statistics are made up then I wouldn't believe it.

corus

corus -  I hear that it was 76.7%

corus, are you implying there are lies, damd lies and statistics.

Regards
pat

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Actually, I think it means 81.15% is the average number of made up statistics.

If Y is 7 times smaller than X means that Y=X/7, then when one says that Z is 25% smaller than X they must mean that Z=4X. Is smaller really bigger?

Is 130% larger than X mean 1.3X or 2.3X?
Is 30% larger than X mean .3X or 1.3X?

I try to avoid "smaller," "larger," etc when dealing with multiples or factors. One seventh the size seems much clearer.

In the first episode of The Apprentice, Donald Trump was informed that the women's team has "quadrupled" their money. He then turns to the men and repeats that the women made 400% profit. I'm just a thousandaire, but I would have put the profit at 300%.

 

-20 C = 253 K
-40 C = 233 K

So, if it is -40 today and was -20 yesterday then today is only 92% as warm as yesterday.  That doesn't sound too bad.