Poor maths

Some reporters tend to get confused when it comes to huge figures like 3.5 billion dollars. This can test the patience of people dealing with them. At a recent briefing to announce the big jump in the FDI inflow for July, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma was irked when a reporter asked him to repeat his figures. Sharma had announced that FDI had increased by 50 per cent to $ 3.5 billion dollars. A reporter who probably had trouble believing such a big number asked him: “Did you say million or billion?” Sharma replied: “Billion!” Not convinced, the same reporter asked: “Is it 50 or 15?” Sharma’s tart response was: “I would appreciate it if you do not revise the figures downwards. And mind your maths.”