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[–] Mr_Winsterhammerman 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago  (edited ago)

You've smoked 50% more than you had before and that 3rd cigarette will end up being 33% of the total cigarettes smoked.

While we're on the subject, one point you may not be aware of is that there is a difference between 'X% as much' and 'X% more'. If a bag of chips says 'now %20 bigger as much' it's 120% as big as it used to be. If something is 200% bigger (twice as big) than something else, then its size has increased by 100%.

edit: Proofreading is hard. Thanks /u/Mixplate

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[–] 1425989? 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

If something is 200% bigger (twice as big) than something else, then its size has increased by 100%.>

I think you meant to say "is 200% as much, which is 100% bigger.

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[–] Mr_Winsterhammerman 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

That's absolutely what I meant to say, thank you.

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[–] OfficerRando [S] 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

You guys are the best. So really the numbers only mean so much. I need to be paying attention to what they say around to know what to compare it to?

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[–] 1426348? 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Yes, just like your original question would not mean anything unless we knew you started with two cigarettes. That made it sensible.

The most confusing thing is knowing which direction to go - 20% of which number, is your real question. That's why there's a 50%, and a 33%, because each of those were referring to a different number. 1 cigarette is 50% of two cigarettes, but it's only 33% of three cigarettes.