Math v Language

You have words - now what do you do with them?
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Slava
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Math v Language

Postby Slava » Tue Mar 16, 2021 10:40 am

I quote, "The authors of the new study say the fuel cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 165% compared to fossil energy."

How is this possible? Isn't 100% of anything all of it? Is there some funky math usage going on here I don't know about? If so, what does this mean?

Here's the whole thing: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56408603
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Audiendus
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Re: Math v Language

Postby Audiendus » Tue Mar 16, 2021 10:43 pm

The relevant sentence of the study (in the section headed "Life Cycle Analysis") states:

"This resulted in an overall carbon footprint for Fast Track VFA-SAF of -55 g CO2eq/MJ, which is 165% lower than fossil jet fuel (85 g CO2eq/MJ)."

Note that the reduction is from plus 85 g to minus 55 g. So the 165% figure seems correct.

A carbon footprint can be less than zero ('carbon negative').

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Slava
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Re: Math v Language

Postby Slava » Wed Mar 17, 2021 5:48 am

Well, that explains it. Thank you for taking the time to read the actual study.

I think this means that the sentence I quote is still, if not wrong, misleading. It does say simply emissions, not "carbon footprint from production and use".
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.


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