4 ms·

I process "3x cheaper" as "for the same money, I can get 3x the original amount". Which would be 33% the original price.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
noja 4y ago
The problem is the word "cheaper". For the opposite word, "expensive", it all depends on the word before it: "as expensive" or "more expensive". "100 widgets cost $100. Unit price is $1." They are now twice _as_ expensive -> they now cost $200. Unit price is now $2. "100 widgets cost $100. Unit price is $1." They are now two times _more_ expensive -> they now cost $300. Unit price is now $3. But How do you do this with the word "cheap"? Does "cheaper" clearly mean "3x as cheap" or "3x more cheap" (which even sounds a bit wrong)? I guess it means "more cheap" means "cheaper". Better to avoid the problem and say "They are now two times the cost, or half the cost". Which is much clearer.
- rfiat 4y ago
  > For the opposite word, "expensive", it all depends on the word before it: "as expensive" or "more expensive". Frustratingly, I find this isn't always true in practice. Lots of people use "x times as y" and "x times more y" interchangeably. To avoid ambiguity I try to only use the former in any context where precision is useful.
  - noja 4y ago
    True. But people also say "percentage" when they mean "percentage points". Once they notice the difference they tend to stay right.
synu 4y ago
What would 1x cheaper mean? 100% of the original price?
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- shard 4y ago
  That reminds of the sign "Buy one, get one". Does that mean you pay for an item and you get that item, or you pay for an item and you get another item for free? I expect the meaning to the be the second one, but my brain parses it to be the first one.
  - mattnewton 4y ago
    That’s because it they have left off the word “free” - it’s just an odd shortening of the less ambiguous “buy one get one free”, probably made by someone who is very familiar with seeing “buy one get one free”
    - akiselev 4y ago
      It not really all that odd in retail. “BOGO” (pronounced bo-go) is quick to say on the floor and is less awkward than “BOGOF” which sounds like either a franken-portmanteau of “beef” and “stroganof [sic]” or an amateur spy’s attempt at a cover identity. It’s also used more generally for buy one get one X% off sales and you’ll see lots of “BOGO50” promo/coupon codes. Then marketing jumped on the bandwagon and started plastering “BOGO” all over marketing material so consumers are used to the lingo now
- mattnewton 4y ago
  Yes?
  - synu 4y ago
    There’s definitely some fun math party tricks in here if we can start with 1x cheaper = 0% cheaper.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

noja 4y ago

The problem is the word "cheaper". For the opposite word, "expensive", it all depends on the word before it: "as expensive" or "more expensive". "100 widgets cost $100. Unit price is $1." They are now twice _as_ expensive -> they now cost $200. Unit price is now $2. "100 widgets cost $100. Unit price is $1." They are now two times _more_ expensive -> they now cost $300. Unit price is now $3. But How do you do this with the word "cheap"? Does "cheaper" clearly mean "3x as cheap" or "3x more cheap" (which even sounds a bit wrong)? I guess it means "more cheap" means "cheaper". Better to avoid the problem and say "They are now two times the cost, or half the cost". Which is much clearer.

rfiat 4y ago
> For the opposite word, "expensive", it all depends on the word before it: "as expensive" or "more expensive". Frustratingly, I find this isn't always true in practice. Lots of people use "x times as y" and "x times more y" interchangeably. To avoid ambiguity I try to only use the former in any context where precision is useful.
- noja 4y ago
  True. But people also say "percentage" when they mean "percentage points". Once they notice the difference they tend to stay right.

synu 4y ago

What would 1x cheaper mean? 100% of the original price?

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
shard 4y ago
That reminds of the sign "Buy one, get one". Does that mean you pay for an item and you get that item, or you pay for an item and you get another item for free? I expect the meaning to the be the second one, but my brain parses it to be the first one.
- mattnewton 4y ago
  That’s because it they have left off the word “free” - it’s just an odd shortening of the less ambiguous “buy one get one free”, probably made by someone who is very familiar with seeing “buy one get one free”
  - akiselev 4y ago
    It not really all that odd in retail. “BOGO” (pronounced bo-go) is quick to say on the floor and is less awkward than “BOGOF” which sounds like either a franken-portmanteau of “beef” and “stroganof [sic]” or an amateur spy’s attempt at a cover identity. It’s also used more generally for buy one get one X% off sales and you’ll see lots of “BOGO50” promo/coupon codes. Then marketing jumped on the bandwagon and started plastering “BOGO” all over marketing material so consumers are used to the lingo now
mattnewton 4y ago
Yes?
- synu 4y ago
  There’s definitely some fun math party tricks in here if we can start with 1x cheaper = 0% cheaper.