Post #1832549

2026-04-30 17:19 UTC

Will somebody who understands statistics/math please explain something to me, in plain English, like I&#39;m a 5-year-old (I&#39;m not)? Why do people reporting that something &quot;saves x%&quot; state it as &quot;It uses roughly 90% less energy ...&quot;, rather than, say, &quot;It uses roughly 10% of the energy ...&quot;? Isn&#39;t &quot;90% less&quot; the same as &quot;10% of&quot;? If they&#39;re the same, then &quot;10%&quot; makes far more sense to me than &quot;90% less&quot;. If they&#39;re different, please tell me how/why. #NotAMathPerson

Replies (4)

@Irenetherogue@beige.party 2026-04-30 17:23

@lisamakesstuff the main reason is that the bigger number makes the difference sound bigger than the smaller number would. When youre trying to convince people to lend their support/do something they arent already doing, sales tactics matter.

Open ##1876424
@sethlombardy@saturation.social 2026-04-30 19:00

@lisamakesstuff “The Moon has never not been around.” 90 > 10 and 90 is psychologically more powerful of a sales-tool than 10. Mathematical language AND, OR, NOT logically help hyper-extend the logic … to satisfaction.

Open ##1876431
@sethlombardy@saturation.social 2026-04-30 19:09

@lisamakesstuff Add: A consumer is consistently dialing numbers down, ever-approaching the miracle $0 bargain out-the-door. If you tell someone with that mindset that you are plunging another numerical value closely consistent with the logic of what you are bargaining by 90%, that’s a sale because you just did the work for them … somehow … in association. Part of a mathematical Group*.

Open ##1876432
@sethlombardy@saturation.social 2026-04-30 21:07

@lisamakesstuff I’ve gotten into being a* Salesman and I thank you for the sounding-board. I hope you have a great day and that that wasn’t too much! lol 🙏🏻 add: to reinforce the idea of 90 > 10 especially lacking context +- lessmore - the absolute value holds. |$|

Open ##1876434