What Is 5 Times More Than 9?

Often, when the terminology "more than" is used, addition is involved.

The difference between a price being "five times what it was" and "five times more than what it was" could be that the "five times" is added to the "what it was" in the latter case.

9 + 5*9 = 6*9 = 54    54 is 5 times more than 9
5*9 = 45    45 is 5 times 9.

Some people are pretty sloppy in their usage of the term "more than," so you often have to check what is actually meant.

The wording "5 times more than 9" means 5*9 added to 9. That is 9 + 45 = 54.

54 is 5 times more than 9.

"5 times 9" is 5*9 = 45

9*5 = 81

Is this a trick question?

45