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Simple statistics people never get right

D

Dari

Lifer
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?
 
it's because proportional reasoning and ratios are one of the most important and difficult thing to teach. Misconceptions galore.
 
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?
 
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?
Click to expand...

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.
 
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?
Click to expand...

....omg.

 
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?
Click to expand...

you are either trying to be funny or you are a giant fucking idiot
 
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?
Click to expand...

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

man that's 110% brutal.
 
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?
Click to expand...

Steroids.
 
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?
Click to expand...

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

rofl
 
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
 
Originally posted by: eddiebravo
you are either trying to be funny or you are a giant fucking idiot
Click to expand...
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.

 
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