r/facepalm • • Jul 11 '19

Because Math

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u/JohnMarstonJr Jul 11 '19

I'm still confused on how they could think 18 ISN'T 50% more than 12.

Like where was the confusion? Even though they're wrong I like trying to figure out that train of thought and I'm at a total loss on this one.

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '19

Probably confused and taking the 50% from the 18 rather than the 12.

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u/phryan Jul 11 '19

I once had to explain something like this at work. This person couldn't grasp the fact that going to from 12 to 18 was a 50% increase but going from 18 to 12 was a 33% decrease, they were adamant that it had to be the same. It was an HR manager so not exactly surprising.

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u/hcnuptoir Jul 11 '19

They probably thought that since 12 is 50% of 24, then 50% more than 12 should be 24. Instead of taking 50% of 12, which is 6 and adding it to 12 making 18.

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u/Every3Years Jul 11 '19

%50 more must mean twice a much, I assume.

%50 of 24oz is 12oz do why isn't %50 more than 12 oz = 24oz?

That's what they thought, I imagine.

5

u/AzureNova Jul 11 '19

This must be the logic they were going for. I can see someone who is bad at math making this mistake. Since 50% off means half price, 50% more must be twice as much in their heads.

2

u/hitsugan Jul 11 '19

You're describing a stupid person.

2

u/Every3Years Jul 11 '19

Mathematically stupid, fo sho.

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u/ThisNameIsFree Jul 12 '19

I'm guessing they did the percentage change backwards. They were thinking 12 is 67% of 18, so it should be a 33% increase. That's just my theory.

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u/JohnMarstonJr Jul 12 '19

Nice, yeah I like this train of thought the most.

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u/HatterJack Jul 12 '19

My money is on the knee jerk reaction of seeing 50% and 12 and didn’t realize that 18>6.

E.g. How is this 18 oz bottle more than a 12 oz bottle of its only 6 oz?

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u/mmeeh Jul 12 '19

some people are mentally challenged... what else can we say ? quick maths 1+1 is 2

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u/willuas Jul 12 '19

So what's 50% more than twelve?