Questions about comparison

[KathyL227]

Hi Ron,
I always make mistakes in questions about comparisons. Could you help me with the following questions:

1. a- Jimmy is five times older than Tom. (wrong)
b- Jimmy is five times as old as Tom. (Right)
(Question: why version b can't not express that: Jimmy is six times as old as Tom.?)
2. The numbers of the bird is five times greater than 5 years ago. (Right)
if 1-a above is wrong, why this sentence above is correct?

Thanks in advance for your help.

- Kathy

[RonPurewal]

your #1(a) and #1(b) are mathematically different, but neither is 'wrong'. not sure where you're getting that idea.

SC problems are verbal problems, not math problems. they will not test mathematical niceties.
so, as far as SC is concerned, both 'N times as great as...' and 'N times greater than...' are fine.

[RonPurewal]

also, you haven't posted the problem that inspired this question... but i sure hope that your source doesn't actually tell you that 'the numbers ... is ...' is correct!

[KathyL227]

Hi Ron,

Thanks for your reply. I got it.

Actually, the "is" was a typing mistake.

Kathy

[RonPurewal]

ok.