[Phys-L] Re: Interesting quotation about percentages

[Bernard Cleyet <anngeorg@PACBELL.NET>]

I don't quite agree.   The original statement is always correct.  To see
what I mean, I rewrite:   3% exceeds 2% by 50% AND by one percentage
point.  Carl also suggested another method less commonly used, i.e.
percents, note the "s".  However, it is cacophonous when the amount is one.

For sometime I've been frustrated by the two conflicting uses of
percentage.  One as a concept or algorithm and the other as a unit.
Recently I've noticed in the popular media (news papers, TV, etc.) the
use of point(s) w/ the latter meaning.

bc, no longer frustrated.

Carl Gaither wrote:

> Hello to the List--
>
> I believe that this quotation and Brian's response show's a source of human
> error.
>
> Firstly, let's rephrase the quotation slightly to "Three apples exceeds 2
> apples by 50 percent not 1 apple".
>
> Here it doesn't take much to agree that this statement is true if we are
> looking for the solution in percentages and not in excess apples.  I
> perceive Denison's statement the same as the statement with the apples.
> Denison was indicating a solution based on percentages and not excess
> percents.  Hence, human error enters into the solution of the problem at the
> moment an individual interprets the problem.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Forum for Physics Educators [mailto:PHYS-L@list1.ucc.nau.edu]On
> Behalf Of Brian Whatcott
> Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 8:11 PM
> To: PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU
> Subject: Re: Interesting quotation about percentages
>
>
> At 07:00 PM 4/29/2005, you wrote:
>
> > Hello to the list--
> >
> > I came across this very interesting quotation by Edward Denison--
> >
> > "Three percent exceeds 2 percent by 50 percent, not by 1 percent".
> >
> > I hope that you enjoy it.
> >
> > Carl Gaither
>
>
> Rendered literally, this becomes..
>
> 0.03 in 1.0 exceeds 0.02 in 1.0  by 0.5  in 1.0 not by 0.01 in 1.0
>
> ...and is much less convincing.
>
>
>
> Brian Whatcott    Altus OK    Eureka!
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