Why In APRS the WIDEn-N path is a two-number counter: the first digit (n) is the total number of digipeater hops originally requested, and the second digit (N) is how many hops are still left. Each digipeater that repeats the packet decrements the second number, and when it reaches zero the packet is no longer repeated. So WIDE3-1 started life as WIDE3-3, has already been digipeated twice, and has one hop remaining.
Watch out The choices about subcarriers, simultaneous stations on frequency, or internet gateways describe nothing in the WIDEn-N scheme; digipeater counting has nothing to do with how many stations may transmit or how many IGates hear the packet.
WIDEn-N: first number = hops asked for, second number = hops left. WIDE3-1 means 2 already used.