CSS scoped custom property ignored when used to calculate variable in outer scope

Question

I'm attempting to scale size via a var custom property in a way that the classes would compose without being coupled. The desired effect is that the 3 lists would be at 3 different scales but as demonstrated on CodePen all 3 lists are the same scale. I'm looking for an explanation of the scoping and a CSS custom property technique that could achieve this with composable loosely coupled code.

:root {
  --size-1: calc(1 * var(--scale, 1) * 1rem);
  --size-2: calc(2 * var(--scale, 1) * 1rem);
  --size-3: calc(3 * var(--scale, 1) * 1rem);
}

.size-1 { font-size: var(--size-1) }
.size-2 { font-size: var(--size-2) }
.size-3 { font-size: var(--size-3) }

.scale-1x { --scale: 1 }
.scale-2x { --scale: 2 }
.scale-3x { --scale: 3 }

html {
  font: 1em sans-serif;
  background: papayawhip;
}

ol {
  float: left;
  list-style: none;
  margin: 1rem;
}

<ol class="scale-1x">
  <li class="size-1">size 1</li>
  <li class="size-2">size 2</li>
  <li class="size-3">size 3</li>
</ol>
<ol class="scale-2x">
  <li class="size-1">size 1</li>
  <li class="size-2">size 2</li>
  <li class="size-3">size 3</li>
</ol>
<ol class="scale-3x">
  <li class="size-1">size 1</li>
  <li class="size-2">size 2</li>
  <li class="size-3">size 3</li>
</ol>

Answer 1

In your case you have evaluated the --scale custom property at the root level to define the --size-* properties and then you defined the --scale again inside child elements. This will not trigger evaluation again because it was already done in an upper level.

Here is a simple example to illustrate the issue:

.box {
  --color: var(--c, blue);
}

span {
  color: var(--color);
}

<div>
  <div class="box"><!-- --c is evaluated at this level -->
    <span style="--c:red">I will not be red because the property is already evaluated and --color is set to blue using the default value</span>
  </div>
</div>

<div style="--c:red">
  <div class="box"><!-- --c is evaluated at this level -->
    <span>I will be red because at the time of the evaluation --c is red (inherited from the upper div)</span>
  </div>
</div>