JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<ul class="flex-container">
    <li class="flex-item big">Why isn't this exactly three times the size of the other one?</li>
    <li class="flex-item">Not really working like expected I don't think...</li>
</ul>

CSS

.flex-container {
    display:flex;
    padding:0 20%;
}
.flex-item {
    flex-grow:1;
    list-style-type:none;
    border:1px solid black;
}
.big {
    flex-grow:3;
}