A query for the mathematically minded

JJ is right. It really is pointless putting this sort of stuff on packaging as most people are fairly mathematically illiterate. Years ago in the UK they introduced a new lottery scratch card for Christmas based on temperatures. The idea was that you had to get a higher temperature than the one printed on the card. The problem was, as it was winter, they used minus temperatures. People went ballistic as they had -5 on the card and they were scratching off -10 and insisting they'd won and no amount of explaining that -10 was actually a lower number than -5 would convince them.

So this product reduces 100% of the bacteria in one mouth and 51% in my other mouth!

As 100% is the totality, I cannot see how it can reduce more than ALL. I would like to show this to my husband, but I do not want to listen him explaining something for 20 minutes.... may be later.

aint mr. jj jest a whiz? they do lots 'f fluffin' fer pushin' their products.

@judyev Surely it must mean .... no, I just don’t know what it means. In spite of JJ’s elucidation. One thing is sure though, it’s meant to persuade you to part with your cash. (The Irish do Maths with an S too, though I always say at the back in that class and doodled)

my guess would be it is a market comparison (151% less than our nearest competitor)!

You really have to wonder about the accuracy of that . . . I mean 151% . . . not only is it about the extra 51% . . . but do they really have to throw in that 1%??? And how do we really know it reduces 151% more bacteria from your mouth . . . if I found it only did 143% of the job, I'd return it for my money back !

151% is unrealistic I do not understand, what kind of message they want to sent to customers

Ha ha they are just trying to blind you with science! They don't say 'removes 151% of bacteria' (which would be impossible, as you say, because that would be more than all of them). Instead they say 'reduces 151% more bacteria from your mouth'. What they don't say is 'more than what?' (presumably that's what the asterisk would indicate, if they have bothered to add that part). It could be, for example, 151% more than the most popular brand - but then you don't know what effect that has in the first place. Or it could be 151% more than using your finger. So for example if rubbing your finger around your teeth wiped off 10 bacteria, 151% more than that would be an extra 15, so a total of 25 bacteria removed. But given that your mouth normally contains around 1,000 bacteria, it still wouldn't have much of an effect! Also that is terrible grammar!

I guess it is put in a way to make people say Wow, that's really clean.

I have never been good at math but it seems our mouth can have around 200% of bacteria

Yeah, I don't quite get it, either. Maybe it works too good?

This is weird. I don't understand this. How can it reduce more than 100%?

Of course they are trying to sell the product at whatever means they can.

Something to grab your attention which it surely did!

As a brit I obviously say "maths" As it's an abbreviation of mathematics then I guess it could be "math". Of course, if mathematics is the plural form of 'mathematic' then clearly the American abbreviation is incorrect. I am not sure on that one. Anyway, onto your percentage problem. I think you have your answer and I don't think I can add anything to the debate other than to congratulate you on still having your own teeth.

I agree with you. I've seen people write about things being 200% better than some other company which doesn't make much sense either.

I see JJ came to the rescue.

The 151% surely did the trick for consumers who like big numbers

I think they are simply exaggerating.