Percentages in the Media

a. A New York Times editorial criticized a chart caption that described a dental rinse as one that “reduces plaque on teeth by over 300%.” What is wrong with that statement?

b. In the New York Times Magazine, a report about the decline of Western investment in Kenya included this: “After years of daily flights, Lufthansa and Air France had halted passenger service. Foreign investment fell 500 percent during the 1990’s.”

What is wrong with this statement?