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Comment Re:3 Times Smaller (Score 1) 180

There's no assuming - it's directly stated with the word "times".

You use multiplication for the magnitude of the difference because the given measurement ("times") is relative to some other thing.
"A is 3 cubic inches bigger than B" means you use 3 cubic inches.
"A is 3 times B bigger than B" means you use 3 times the size of B.
"A is 3 times bigger than B" also means you use 3 times the size of B.

You do nothing if the comparison is equality:
A is Y times as big as B.
A is as big as (Y) Bs.

A is Y times as small as B.
A is as small as (Y) Bs.

Big and small are relative terms, but within any given context big > small, and bigger represents an increase while smaller represents a decrease.

You use addition or subtraction for the direction (sign) of the difference otherwise.
A is Y times bigger than B.
A is as big as B plus Y Bs.
A is as big as (1+Y) Bs.

A is Y times smaller than B.
A is as small as B minus Y Bs.
A is as small as (1-Y) Bs.

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