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

It depends on who you ask.

* What’s 20% bigger than 100? People will answer 120.
* What’s one time bigger than 100? People will answer 200.
* What’s two times bigger than 100? People will answer 200… unless you just asked them the previous two questions, in which case they’ll realize it should be 300.