The amounts of apples are three times as much as peaches.

Does it mean that 1 apple = 3 peaches or
3 apples = 1 peach?

It looks like a math question but it's more an interpretation of the statement in bold.

Thank you very much.

It means for every three apples, there's only one peach, so if you have 100 peaches, you've also got 300 apples.

Of course, an expression like this doesn't necessarily mean literally 3 to 1. It's probably more of an approximation than exact amounts.

Richard

I am taught that we have to put countables after "a number of" and uncountables after "an amount of." Shouldn't the question be "The numbers of apples are three times as many as peaches?"

I also have another question
a)Small amounts of land were used for keeping animals.
b)a small amount of land was used for keeping animals.

What's the difference between "amounts of~ /numbers of ~ "and "an amount of/ a number of~?"

Thanks a lot !!

You're technically right, Davidrock. An oversight on my part.

To answer your question, in my interpretation:

small amounts of land = various small pieces of land;

a small amount of land = one small piece of land.

Well, that's one person's interpretation.
Richard

quote:

The amounts of apples are three times as much as peaches.

I think it would be most natural to say:

There are three times as many apples as (there are) peaches.

Rachel