Problem Solving incorrect sentences?

Hi Neotinx:

Welcome to the BTG community.

The language in this case is fine. You are interpreting it wrongly. The statement says
"The intensity corresponding to" n+1 is 10 times that of n. This means that intensity is related to reading n in some way. In the math world, we would depict such a relationship by
Intensity (I) = f(n) ; where f represents some sort of function.

Now let's look at this particular problem. Keeping in mind that I=f(n), and new intensity is f(n+1)
we are told that f(n+1)=10*f(n) (New Intensity is 10 times the previous intensity). We don't know what f(n) is exactly. But we can still solve questions.

Now expanding the pattern, for n=1,2,3 etc. we see that.
for n=0, f(0+1)=10*f(0) => f(1)=10*f(0)
for n=1, f(1+1)=10*f(1) => f(2)=10*f(1) = 10* (10*f(0)) = 10^2*f(0)
for n=2, f(3)=10*f(2) = 10^3*f(0) etc.
So we can see the pattern.
Then we need to find f(8)/f(3)
It will be (10^8*f(0))/(10^3*f(0)) = 10^5.

Your mistake was assuming that the reading is 10 times the previous reading. The relationship is not between the "reading" but the corresponding "intensities".

To interpret it the way you wanted it to be, it should have said, "the new reading of n+1 equals 10 times the previous reading of n. I am sure (100%), the more you practice such questions, you will get a penchant for setting up the equations correctly. If it's a hard one, there are experts here to help. Good luck.

Let me know if this helps

Thank you so much!

Sometimes it's hard to grasp the concept/instruction of a question such as this one!

You just blew my mind with a crystal-clear explanation! Again, thanks a lot