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Souroin Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Bigger by two thirds

0 Hello everyone, 02br
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00First, there are two things A and B. B is smaller than A by two thirds in length, A is 3 c and B is 2 cm. 02br
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00I know an expression to say this in 'B is two thirds of A". Then, do you say "B is smaller than A by two thirds" to describe the given relation? 02br
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00When someone uses an expression saying 'A is bigger than B by two thirds", does this describe the given relation incorrectly and does it actually make A smaller than B? Would you say A is bigger than B by one and one thirds (1+1/3), though this appears quite complicating? If the former still describe the relation correctly then it would not be ideal to use as it might be confusing? 02br
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00Thanks for your time and attention for those reading through my question in advance. 02br
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00Regards, 02br
00Souroin, 0-
  

Top answer

0If I were told that A is bigger than B by two-thirds, I would think that A was one and two-thirds times the size of B. 02i 02br 02br 00CJ0-

  • 0If I were told that A is bigger than B by two-thirds, I would think that A was one and two-thirds times the size of B.
  • 02i 02br 02br 00CJ0-
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12 Answers
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0If I were told that A is bigger than B by two-thirds, I would think that A was one and two-thirds times the size of B. 01del00For example, if A were 3 'size units', then I would think that B was 5 'size units'.02del02br
00Edit: It should be: 01i00For example, if B were 3 'size units', then I would think that A was 5 'size units'.02i02br
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0 Hello CalifJim, 02br
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00Thanks for very quick comment. I would appreciate if you can space bit more of your time on this, thanks. I understood that "A is bigger than B by two thirds in ex length" would say actually "A is 3 cm, smallar than B (5 cm)", so 'two-thirds" inverses the literal bigger 'A > B' direction. Am I following your explanation? 02br
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0 two-thirds = 2/3 02br
00one and two-thirds = 5/3 02br
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00I'm not sure what the standard is with regard to expressions like "bigger than X by two-thirds" or "smaller than X by two-thirds". That's why I phrased my answer in terms of what I would think (i.e., what I would guess), if someone used those expressions. 02br
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00I think (I gue
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0 Dear CalifJim 02br
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00Again, thank you for additional comments. Now it's not confusing and quite clear rather. A comparative form of an adjective actually decides the relation between things compared. Your reply sounds very logically to me. 02br
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00Yeah, I knew you just mentioned how it might appear to you, but I always value how natives imagi
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0 Hello Souroin 02br
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00A = 3cm B = 2cm 02br
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00You can say 'B is two-thirds of the size of A' (in BrE). 02br
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00MrP 0-
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0 To CalifJim, 02br
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00Re: "A is smaller than B by two-thirds" (or "by 2/3") means that if you take 2/3 the size of B, you will get the size of A. Mathematically, this is A = 2/3 times B. 02br
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00I disagree with you here. Allow me to give you an example:- 02br
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00i) A is smaller than B by two inches = { A = B - 2"} 02br
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0 Hello MrPedantic 02br
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00Thank you for your comment on this and kind attention. I will note this way of expression. 02br
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00Sincerely, 0-
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0 A usual English expression is "Jack is taller than Bill by the head". So "by ~" expresses the difference of two things. When we talk about a math equation like "1=5/3- 2/3", we can speak like "1 is smaller than 5/3 by 2/3". But when we are talking about a comparison between two physical quantities, we should say like either "A is smaller than B by 2/3 of A" or "A is smaller than B by 2/3 of B"
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0 Hello Temico, 02br
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00First, thank you for your kind attention on this extending from my question. I think, your point is that my question is missing out perhaps 2/3 'times/folds'. Simply using 'by' could mean 'minus' or 'plus' e.g., Dow Jones industry average increased by 0.5 points meaning e.g., the previous time point it compares would be 100 points and now 100.5
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0 Hello Paco, 02br
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00Thank you for your comment. I probably needed more checking on the internet to see how this kind expressions are used in what kind of context, but just checked to see only this sort of expression are used. I can't tell how the expression should be as I'm a native speaker - you knew obviously they use expression like you suggested - but what is clear

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