Why do we count the initial number when we say something is X times bigger?
In: 42
Does anyone else not really understand the question?
If I say 5 is 5 times bigger than 1, what I mean is 5×1 is 5.
What do you mean we count the initial number?
The word times denotes multiplication, not addition.
Bigger just means the value of the first number (5) is greater than the value of the second number (1)
A man who is 300 lbs would be two times bigger than a man who is 150 lbs
???
Because “bigger” means you’re specifically talking about the difference between the starting and ending amounts. You’re describing the **amount of change**, not the result of the change.
“Bigger” describes how much it changed, and then you have to add the original to get the “times as big” amount.
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
Because, for example, 10 is twice as big as 5, not once as big.
10 is five times as big as 2, not four times the size.
We don’t. You’re confusing “x times as big” and “x% or x times bigger.” We only count the initial number in the former case. If someone is doing otherwise, they’re fucking up.
thank you everyone for your answers! i always over-analyze word based math problems and get confused by it. from what i understood the problem lies within the wording of the question
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