View Single Post
 
Old Nov 16, 2017, 12:15 AM
precaryous's Avatar
precaryous precaryous is offline
Inner Space Traveler
 
Member Since: May 2014
Location: on the wing of an eagle
Posts: 3,901
Quote:
Originally Posted by mostlylurking View Post
In absolute numbers .14% is .01% less than .15%. (.140% is the same as .14%)

What gets tricky is that people often talk about a reduction in something as a percentage of the original. Like a $15 item that is on sale for $14 has had its original price reduced by roughly 7%. If someone had a .15% chance of developing a rare illness, but they're taking a drug that reduces the chances to .14%, that's a 7% reduction in their chances of sickness. But in real or absolute terms that's still pretty piddly... it only fell by 0.01%.

Apologies if that is way more ugly math than you wanted to hear about!
No, no! It’s interesting.
I’m just thrilled that by using my poor math skills ...I was right about it being .01% less!
Thanks for this!
Anonymous45127, CantExplain, LonesomeTonight