Simple statistics people never get right

Dari

Lifer
Oct 25, 2002
17,133
38
91
Let's say you have 1 apple and get another apple. That's an increase of 100%. But, people usually say that, when you go from 1 apple to 3 apple, it's an increase of 300% when it's clearly 200%. It seems that people always equate ratio with growth rate for anything beyond 2X. Why is that?
 

ItTheCow

Senior member
Apr 7, 2002
365
0
0
If you take 10% off something that's already reduced 10%, the aggregate isn't 20% off.
 

rocadelpunk

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
5,589
1
81
it's because proportional reasoning and ratios are one of the most important and difficult thing to teach. Misconceptions galore.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,654
4,168
126
For that reason, I refuse to use percentages over 100%. People just don't understand percentages in that range. Even educated people often mix it up.

Even a common simple phrase is phyically impossible. "I gave 110% effort." How can you give 10% more effort than the maximum effort you can possibly give?
 

JTsyo

Lifer
Nov 18, 2007
11,915
1,046
126
Originally posted by: dullard
For that reason, I refuse to use percentages over 100%. People just don't understand percentages in that range. Even educated people often mix it up.

Even a common simple phrase is phyically impossible. "I gave 110% effort." How can you give 10% more effort than the maximum effort you can possibly give?

It depends what you use to define max effort. Say you can usually lift 200 lbs but you get into a situation that gets a lot of adrenaline pumping you you move something that weight 220 lbs. That's 110% of your usual max. Though you're right, most people use it when it's not meant literally.
 

BlackTigers

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2006
4,491
2
71
Originally posted by: dullard
Even a common simple phrase is phyically impossible. "I gave 110% effort." How can you give 10% more effort than the maximum effort you can possibly give?

....omg.

 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
I am 100% sure I know how to look at the statistics and by 100% I mean I'm twice as certain about it. ;)
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
Originally posted by: ItTheCow
If you take 10% off something that's already reduced 10%, the aggregate isn't 20% off.

wouldn't that be 19% so it's pretty damn close.
 

eddiebravo

Senior member
Nov 29, 2005
270
0
0
Originally posted by: dullard
For that reason, I refuse to use percentages over 100%. People just don't understand percentages in that range. Even educated people often mix it up.

Even a common simple phrase is phyically impossible. "I gave 110% effort." How can you give 10% more effort than the maximum effort you can possibly give?

you are either trying to be funny or you are a giant fucking idiot
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
Originally posted by: eddiebravo
Originally posted by: dullard
For that reason, I refuse to use percentages over 100%. People just don't understand percentages in that range. Even educated people often mix it up.

Even a common simple phrase is phyically impossible. "I gave 110% effort." How can you give 10% more effort than the maximum effort you can possibly give?

you are either trying to be funny or you are a giant fucking idiot

man that's 110% brutal.
 

feralkid

Lifer
Jan 28, 2002
16,709
4,807
136
Originally posted by: dullard
For that reason, I refuse to use percentages over 100%. People just don't understand percentages in that range. Even educated people often mix it up.

Even a common simple phrase is phyically impossible. "I gave 110% effort." How can you give 10% more effort than the maximum effort you can possibly give?

Steroids.
 

TecHNooB

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
7,458
1
76
Originally posted by: BlackTigers
Originally posted by: dullard
Even a common simple phrase is phyically impossible. "I gave 110% effort." How can you give 10% more effort than the maximum effort you can possibly give?

....omg.

lol
 

spacejamz

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
10,911
1,560
126
[insert some random number between 1 and 100 here]% of all statistics are made up...
 

Insomniator

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2002
6,294
171
106
Originally posted by: eddiebravo
Originally posted by: dullard
For that reason, I refuse to use percentages over 100%. People just don't understand percentages in that range. Even educated people often mix it up.

Even a common simple phrase is phyically impossible. "I gave 110% effort." How can you give 10% more effort than the maximum effort you can possibly give?

you are either trying to be funny or you are a giant fucking idiot

rofl
 

SandEagle

Lifer
Aug 4, 2007
16,809
13
0
i used to work at circuit city eons ago. they had the 'match the difference by 110%' if you found a lower price somewhere else. i had a customer think he was going to get a 110% discount off the item. wth? if the difference in price $50, they match it at 100% then take 10% off, so in this case, $5. lame
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
25,654
4,168
126
Originally posted by: eddiebravo
you are either trying to be funny or you are a giant fucking idiot
I know the intent of the phrase. No one is that dumb. I just gave an example of a percentage over 100% that is used incorrectly.