RE: [ubl-lcsc] Rate and Ratio

["Paul Spencer" <paul.spencer@boynings.co.uk>]

Marion,

Being new to this group, I should probably introduce myself as someone
working mainly in eGovernment in the UK, including in procurement.

For (A), I have used the term "band" in the past. This is well-understood in
the UK.

For (B), "tax ratio" is mathematically accurate, but would "tax percentage"
be more intuitive? The problem with "ratio" is that it implies that a 10%
value would be expressed as "0.1".

Regards

Paul Spencer
Director, Boynings Consulting Ltd
XML Adviser to the Office of the e-Envoy
http://www.boynings.co.uk

> -----Original Message-----
> From: marion.royal@gsa.gov [mailto:marion.royal@gsa.gov]
> Sent: 07 August 2003 21:57
> To: ubl-lcsc@lists.oasis-open.org
> Subject: [ubl-lcsc] Rate and Ratio
>
>
> During one of Gunther's' presentations in Montreal, he was looking for a
> replacement for the word rate to distinguish between
> A. Rate as used in tax rate category
> b. Rate as used  tax rate (percentage)
> c. Rate as used in rate of speed
>
> An alternative of "ratio" was offered, but I'm not sure this was resolved.
> The problem may be that we habitually use incorrect terms, especially
> within our domains.  I looked around a bit and noticed that in
> mathematics,
> rate is used to compare two unlike units of measurement as in "kilometers
> per hour" and ratio is used for comparison of numbers of the same units of
> measure (gear ratio is 1:4).  The units of a ratio are typically not
> expressed.
>
> A currency exchange is a comparison of two different units, so currency
> exchange rate would be accurate.
>
> A percentage seems to me to be a ratio.  A tax of 10 percent would equate
> to a ratio of 1 to 10 dollars.  Likewise with discounts.
>
> Does this make sense to you?  Does it have a dramatic impact on business
> vocabularies?
>
>
>
> Marion A. Royal
> 202.208.4643 (Office)
> 202.302.4634 (Mobile)
>
>
>
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