Comment by playforclaude
Comment by playforclaude 12 hours ago
33,000 multiples - (33 * 33,000 multiples) = -1056000 multiples
Comment by playforclaude 12 hours ago
33,000 multiples - (33 * 33,000 multiples) = -1056000 multiples
"Reduce by 97%" is simple, clear, and accurate.
"Reduce 33x" and "make 33x smaller" are ambiguous, unclear, and inaccurate. Is something that's "33x smaller" or "reduced 33x" 1/33 of the original total or is it 1/34? The question can't be answered in the absence of more information.
These are common expressions, sure. They're also awful, belonging to the same category of error as:
* The price is expensive
* It's a good-quality piece
* All but one of my friends speaks like this.
* Here's an author whom we know cares about language.
* As well, this is how some people write.
That is, they're the errors of a normal native speaker.
Reducing something 33x means to make it 33 times smaller. It's a common way of saying this in English