Help DH and me solve this silly maths argument

[ADayGivingMeHope]

Ok it's not an AIBU but we need this argument settled!!

I am 30.

I just said to my DH that I am MORE than half his age...
We are talking about someone on TV who is 70
DH says I am LESS than half his age.

Half his age is 35. I am 40 years younger than him so surely I am MORE than half his age?

DH says half his age is 35 and I am 30 so I'm less than half his age...

Tell us who is right please!

I'm surprised how few people have not heard of the phrase 'more than half his age to mean a number that was mathematically less than half his age. I didn't think it was an uncommon phrasing.

Although at least it isn't likely to end up like the thread about 'the back of 3 o'clock' or whatever it was.

This isn't a maths argument, it's a linguistic one. I see what you mean, you count the age difference, your husband your respective ages. In terms of common usage your DH is right though. Maybe you can say "He's more than double my age" :)

'His age' is the crucial bit here, surely? It's a specific figure which you are comparing with your age (another specific figure)
As you've worded it, your dh is correct.

Were you trying to look clever with a 'maths riddle' but got the wording wrong?!

I'm surprised how few people have not heard of the phrase 'more than half his age to mean a number that was mathematically less than half his age. are you serious? How can a phrase that is worded more than mean less than

Your dh is votrect

Correct x

Mathematically, you are less than half his age. 30 < 70/2. The age difference is more than half his age, which is perhaps what you're getting at.

This is why the aliens won't visit us.

He's right. Less than.

Both of you are right. You're just looking at the same thing from two different perspectives.

Your phrase requires the assumption to be stated. Ie "I am more than half his age younger than him."

Your husband's statement, "You are less than half his age", stands alone.

He is correct.

Agree with sofato5.

In context, it is easy to understand what you are implying without the younger than him.

You need to get out more.

You are both right depending how you perceive it.

Your phrase requires the assumption to be stated. Ie "I am more than half his age younger than him." see to me, adding in the 'younger than him' statement still doesn't make sense.

'I am more than half his age' - his age is 70, half is 35, OP is 30 so saying 'younger than him' in the end just makes the statement sound stupider to me

Your husband is right.

"More than x" is not a complicated concept. If someone gave your husband £70 and gave you £30, would you have got the same amount as him? No. Would you have even got half as much? No. Any amount between £0 and £35 would be less than half. Over £35 would be more than half. That is all the phrase means.

It seems as if you wanted to say was that the age difference between you and the 70 year old was more than your current age. So he was older than you are now when you are born.

This means exactly the same thing as saying that you are "less than half his age."

It's not about linguistics it's about mathematical fact- there is a definitive answer!

The OP is saying that the difference between her age (30) and the older mans's age (70), which is 40, is greater than half the man's age, which would be half of 70 = 35. So, using that logic, a 40 year age gap is greater/more than a 35 year age gap (i.e. half his age). Hence the OP sees it as her, being 30 years old, being more than i.e. even younger than half (35 years) the older man's age. I think as other people have said, it's a case of phrasing rather maths.

This is why i hate numbers.

But what would you call the 80s without numbers?

ha ha, yes didnt think of that!!
lighthearted, but i hate maths so much as was useless at school and cant do any exams beyond an entry level - which i did struggle with. Once it gets into fractions or equations or algebra I find it so hard to grasp and admire people that can get it and have a maths brain. I wished i was good with numbers ( but the 80s i can deal with!)

You could have said "He's more than twice my age."

Half his age is 35. You are 30 so you are more than half his age younger than him. Although 40yrs younger is higher than 35 so you are more than half his age younger if you see what I mean?

I think you are just phrasing it wrong (Ill child and tired so I could be wrong though )

Your DH is right.

Just replace the words in your statement with the numbers you're referring to:

"I am MORE than half his age..."

Half his age = 35
I am =30

So your sentence becomes:
"30 is MORE than 35"

Which is wrong, ergo your DH is correct.