Original version

BBC World Service Australasia

More or Less

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life

Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life.

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

More or Less: Subitising and simplifying: how to better explain numbers

Magazines & Reviews

Factual

Subitising and simplifying: how to better explain numbers

16/04/2022 GMT

BBC World Service - More or Less, Subitising and simplifying: how to better explain numbers

How can we clearly explain complex numbers to the public without losing their meaning?

Tim Harford talks to authors Chip Heath and Karla Starr about their book ‘Making Numbers Count’, exploring how we can better explain complex numbers to the public.

Have you ever looked at a numerical claim and thought ‘what on earth does that mean?’ 

Complex numbers are often badly communicated, making it difficult for the public to appreciate what they signify - but dial things down too much and you’re at risk of oversimplifying important issues. 

It’s a tightrope walk authors Chip Heath and Karla Starr have explored in their new book ‘Making Numbers Count’. Tim Harford talks to them about how we can improve the way we communicate numbers to the general public.

Producer: Lizzy McNeill

(Image: Child in front of numbers, Credit: Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

More or Less

Subitising and simplifying: how to better explain numbers

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Australasia

About BBC World Service