You came across as arrogant in your comment to tourmalinetaco, as if you are a great educator let down by the intellectual inadequacy of your acolytes. In truth, your conflation of "amount" and "target" muddies the concept you are trying to convey. If you wish to be brief, be precise.

You are so determined for me to be wrong that you've tied yourself in a knot.

This is not an ad hominem, it is a direct criticism of your attitude.