by a factor of

IPA/baɪ ɐ fˈaktəɹ ɒv/
IPA/baɪ ɐ fˈæktɚɹ ʌv/

by a factor of — 慣用語

1. used before a number to say how many times bigger or smaller something gets, so

1.慣用語B2
釋義

以……倍數

表示增減為原本的幾倍

used before a number to say how many times bigger or smaller something gets, so the new amount equals the old one multiplied or divided by that number.

例句

After Kasia added the new servers, the website's speed rose by a factor of five.

Kasia 加裝新伺服器後，網站速度提升了五倍。

increase + by a factor of + [number]

The new water filter cut the level of harmful metals by a factor of ten.

新的濾水器把有害金屬的含量降低到原本的十分之一。

decrease + by a factor of + [number]

常見搭配
  • increase by a factor of
  • reduce by a factor of
  • grow by a factor of
  • fall by a factor of
同義詞
  • times

    plainer everyday wording: 'three times bigger'

  • fold

    suffix form for increases only: 'a threefold rise'

文法句型

increase/decrease + by a factor of + [number]

用法筆記

Always followed by a specific number that tells you the multiplier; with 'increase' or 'grow' it means times larger, with 'reduce' or 'fall' it means that many times smaller.

常見錯誤

The cost rose by a factor of 50 percent.
The cost rose by a factor of two.
the number after the phrase is a multiplier, not a percentage.
Output increased in a factor of three.
Output increased by a factor of three.
the fixed preposition is 'by', never 'in'.