Why do we count the initial number when we say something is X times bigger?

Question

Why do we count the initial number when we say something is X times bigger?

In: 42

Answer 1

Because when you say something is “X times bigger” you’re actually implying that something is “X times bigger [than N]” where N is whatever the initial number/value is. This is because when you say something is “bigger” then you must be comparing it to something else.

Then if you go a step further and replace “something” with Y then you can say:

Y = XN + N