[zmgsabst]

Sometimes it’s nice to frame it the other way, eg:

90% -> 1 error per 10

99% -> 1 error per 100

99.99% -> 1 error per 10,000

That can help to see the growth in accuracy, when the numbers start getting small (and why clocks are framed as 1 second lost per…).

[XCSme]

Still, for the human mind it doesn't make intuitive sense.

I guess it's the same problem with the mind not intuitively grasping the concept of exponential growth and how fast it grows.

[pixl97]

The lily pad example of the lake being half full on the 29th day out of 30 is also a good one.

[XCSme]

ChatGPT quick explanation:

Humans struggle with understanding exponential growth due to a cognitive bias known as *Exponential Growth Bias (EGB)*—the tendency to underestimate how quickly quantities grow over time. Studies like Wagenaar & Timmers (1979) and Stango & Zinman (2009) show that even educated individuals often misjudge scenarios involving doubling, such as compound interest or viral spread. This is because our brains are wired to think linearly, not exponentially, a mismatch rooted in evolutionary pressures where linear approximations were sufficient for survival.

Further research by Tversky & Kahneman (1974) explains that people rely on mental shortcuts (heuristics) when dealing with complex concepts. These heuristics simplify thinking but often lead to systematic errors, especially with probabilistic or nonlinear processes. As a result, exponential trends—such as pandemics, technological growth, or financial compounding—often catch people by surprise, even when the math is straightforward.