The other day I was listening to a news item on the radio and this number was cited: 500 million. It struck me that “1/2 billion” was the same.
But is it? Do they communicate the same thing?
For me, one expression “feels” like a larger amount even though, mathematically speaking, they are identical. What about you? Give your answer in the poll.
Do you have a similar communication issue that you can mention in comments?
My answer: because a “billion” is a hugely larger number than a “million,” for some reason ½ billion feels like the larger of the two.
For what it’s worth.
Ray
© 2015 Ray Rhamey