are likely about 662% – or 7.62 times – higher than officially reported.
This annoys me. If the value is 662% higher than reported, then it is also:
6.62 times higher than reported
762% as high as reported
7.62 times as high as reported
Whether you use percentage or a factor doesn’t change the principle. “as high” signals a new value that is a straight multiple, “higher than” signals a change that is a multiple, so always assume a base of 1 or 100% on which the change is added.
By the way 1 and 100% is the exact same thing, and so is 662% and 6.62. Percent aren’t magical they are just a short form for saying hundredths of 1.
In everyday speech they also signal that you’re talking about a fractional value in relation to a different one that is hopefully clear from context. But it isn’t always and people abuse that too.
This annoys me. If the value is 662% higher than reported, then it is also:
Whether you use percentage or a factor doesn’t change the principle. “as high” signals a new value that is a straight multiple, “higher than” signals a change that is a multiple, so always assume a base of 1 or 100% on which the change is added.
By the way 1 and 100% is the exact same thing, and so is 662% and 6.62. Percent aren’t magical they are just a short form for saying hundredths of 1.
In everyday speech they also signal that you’re talking about a fractional value in relation to a different one that is hopefully clear from context. But it isn’t always and people abuse that too.