2001-09-09
> >Why is he baffled? 230 % lighter means 2.3 times lighter or 0.43 (43 %)
of
> >the weight. A reduction of 150 %, means it is reduced by 1.5 times or
0.67
> >or 67 % of a former count.
Geez! Now I'm getting confused! I understood it to mean that if an object
weighs 1000 N and a 2-nd object is 2.3 times lighter, then its weigth is
1000/2.3 or 430 N. Thus 430 N is 43 % of the other objects weight, or 57 %
less.
>
>
>
> I beg to differ. If something is 20 % of something else, then it is 80 %
> less. If something is 98 % of something else, then it is 2 % less. If
> something is 67 % of something else, then it is 33 % less.
I agree!
There seems to be something wrong with American education in arithmetic.
When I was in
> Unesco in 1948 I led a staff revolt when the American accountants in the
> administration tried to pay us 20 % more when the value of the French
franc
> dropped 20%. We demanded 25 % more francs.
I agree! If the French Franc had only 80 % of its former value, then to
compensate, you would need to get 1/0.8 more or 1.25 or an increase of 125
%.
Are we agreed?
John
>
> Joseph B. Reid
> 17 Glebe Road West
> Toronto M5P 1C8 Tel. 416 486-6071
>
