# Product X costs three times less than Product Y.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/product-x-costs-three-times-less-than-product-y/669239>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 19, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/product-x-costs-three-times-less-than-product-y/669239 "2013-09-19T16:13:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/product-x-costs-three-times-less-than-product-y/669239/41 "2013-09-21T16:46:00Z")

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> [@Alley\_Dweller](#):
>
> The word you are looking for is “[semantically](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/semantically).” There is nothing wrong with the [syntax](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/syntax) of the sentence.

Thank you. Please mentally make the appropriate substitution in my post.

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**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/product-x-costs-three-times-less-than-product-y/669239/42 "2013-09-21T16:48:46Z")

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> [@pulykamell](#):
>
> It’s still somewhat ambiguous, I’d argue. To me, “twice as much” clearly means 2X, but I can see somebody making an argument for 2X+X or 3X. It’s tricky.
> 
> Now, “two times MORE” should mean 2X + X but, still, language ain’t math, so it can mean different things to different people.

MORE _means_ PLUS when used in an expression that takes the form of “_n_ times MORE.” This is not an arguable proposition.

Also, I maintain that language _IS_ math, which is why “orange,” “silver,” and “purple” all rhyme with each other.

😃 😛

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/product-x-costs-three-times-less-than-product-y/669239/43 "2013-09-21T17:07:44Z")

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> [@kaylasdad99](#):
>
> MORE _means_ PLUS when used in an expression that takes the form of “_n_ times MORE.” This is not an arguable proposition.

Joke or not, what an expression means is equivalent to how people use it, not what you may impute to it logically. That’s the only part that is unarguable.

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