differ by a factor of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "differ by a factor of" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to express the difference between two figures or measurements that have been multiplied by a certain factor. For example, "The two measurements differ by a factor of 10."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In fact, in the current paper, it is stated that "Despite using the same basic radiometer measurements, tropical TMT trend differences between these groups differ by a factor of three".

The Guardian

Let us assume that the puzzle solving times of different machines do not differ by a factor of two, as shown in Figure 8.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Not only the shape of the curves is rather different, but the impedance values also differ by a factor of 10 and 5, respectively, on the imaginary and real axes.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The distinction between BD calculated in blood and that calculated in extracellular fluid is important for the diagnosis of metabolic acidosis, since the incidence of BD > 12.0 mmol/L might differ by a factor of 4 when using different BD algorithms 26.

Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica

Owing to the different gas spargers the kLa values of both columns differ by a factor of about two.

Chemical Engineering Science

This is surprising, given that they have very different proton wires, causing the rate of ESPT to differ by a factor of up to 30.

Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

As is shown in the Table, the numbers of diverse families in two different mosquito species (A. gambiae and A. aegypti) differ by a factor of magnitude.

Biology Direct

For instance, if the mean evolution rates of two domains in human proteins differ by a factor of 2, then an ~1.3 fold difference in rates can be expected when these domains are fused within a single multidomain protein; similarly, in the case of Arabidopsis, an ~1.6 fold difference can be expected.

Biology Direct

However, the conditioned mean stretch values differ by a factor of 14.

Combustion and Flame

Even at high void fractions (∼0.42), the two extreme values of tortuosity factor differ by a factor of ∼1.4.

Chemical Engineering Science

For example, their melting points differ by nearly a factor of two, and the vapour pressures differ by a factor of more than one billion.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "differ by a factor of", ensure you clearly state what the factor refers to. For instance, specify whether it's a factor of two, ten, or any other specific number to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid stating the factor without clearly indicating which quantity is being multiplied. For example, instead of saying "A and B differ by a factor of two", specify whether A is twice B or vice-versa.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "differ by a factor of" functions as a comparative quantifier, indicating the proportional difference between two numerical values. It specifies that one value is a multiple of the other, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

79%

News & Media

12%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "differ by a factor of" is a common and grammatically correct way to express proportional differences between two quantities. Ludwig's analysis reveals it's used primarily in scientific and technical contexts, with applications in news and media as well. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is well-established in written English. To use it effectively, ensure clarity by stating the specific factor and the base value to which it refers. Common errors involve ambiguity about which quantity is being multiplied. Alternatives include phrases like "vary proportionally" or ""are scaled by a factor of"", which may be more suitable depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are scaled by a factor of

This emphasizes the process of one value being adjusted or multiplied by a specific amount to match another.

have a proportional difference

This highlights that the difference between the quantities is related by a specific ratio or factor.

show a proportionate difference

This alternative indicates a consistent and predictable relationship in their difference.

relate by a scaling factor

This specifies that one quantity can be derived from the other through multiplication by a constant.

exhibit a ratio of

This highlights the presence of a distinct numerical ratio between the two quantities.

vary proportionally

This suggests a direct relationship where changes in one quantity result in predictable changes in another.

present a relative difference of

This indicates that the disparity is viewed in relation to the size of the original value.

differ in magnitude

This focuses on the size of the difference between two quantities, without necessarily specifying a factor.

correspond by a factor

This denotes a reciprocal connection where two values are linked through multiplication or division.

are multiples apart

This conveys the sense that one number contains the other a certain number of times.

FAQs

How do I use "differ by a factor of" in a sentence?

Use "differ by a factor of" to show the proportional difference between two values. For example, "The costs "are scaled by a factor of" two between the two options."

What's the difference between "differ by a factor of" and "differ by"?

"Differ by" simply indicates a difference, while "differ by a factor of" specifies a proportional or multiplicative relationship between the values. For instance, salaries might differ by $1000 (a simple difference), or "salaries might differ by a factor of" 2 (one is twice the other).

Is it always necessary to specify the direction of the difference when using "differ by a factor of"?

It's best practice to clarify which value is the base or reference, or to make it clear from context. For example, "A is larger than B by a factor of 3" clarifies the relationship.

What are some alternatives to "differ by a factor of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "vary proportionally", ""are scaled by a factor of"", or "have a proportional difference" to express a similar relationship.