Hold on…
An on-again, off-again move by the Obama administration to scrap the federal gas tax in favor of a pay-per-mile fee would boost the tab to Americans as high as 250 percent, raising their current tax of 18.4 cents a gallon to as high as 46 cents, according to a new government study. —New pay-per-mile scheme would boost taxes 250 percent | WashingtonExaminer.com
The math example doesn’t illustrate the point the writer is trying to make.
If you start with 18.4 cents a gallon, and “boost” the tax 0%, you still have 18.4 cents/gallon.
If you start with 18.4 cents a gallon, and “boost it” 100%, you have added 18.4 cents, and you have 36.8 cents/gallon.
If you start with 18.4 and “boost the tab” 150%, that is 18.4 cents plus another 27.6 cents, which gives you 46 cents, but that’s only a 150% boost, not the 250% boost mentioned in the lead.
If you start with 18.4 cents a gallon, and boost it 250%, that is 350%, or 64.4 cents.
This is less a math problem than a writing problem. To get to 250% of something, you start with 100% and add 150%. The snappy phrase “boost the tab to Americans as high as 250%” does not mean the same thing as “the new tax is up to 250% of the old tax.”
Post was last modified on 14 Jan 2013 6:57 pm
Another corner building. Designed and textured. Needs an interior. #blender3d #design #aesthetics #medievalyork #mysteryplay
What have my students learned about creative nonfiction writing? During class they are collaborating on…
Two years after the release of ChatGPT, it may not be surprising that creative work…
I both like and hate that Canvas tracks the number of unmarked assignments that await…
The complex geometry on this wedge building took me all weekend. The interior walls still…
My older siblings say they remember our mother sitting them down to watch a new…