Critical Reasoning

Last year, 1,200 Smithtown residents who work in hospitals and doctors' offices contracted the flu, and 1,100 Smithtown residents who are not employed in medical facilities contracted the flu. On the basis of these numbers, it is safe to conclude that the likelihood of contracting the flu was not much different for those who were employed in medical facilities than it was for those who were not.

Which of the following would reveal most clearly the irrationality of the conclusion above?

A Counting cases of the flu among home health care workers as well as cases among workers at medical facilities
B Expressing the difference between the numbers of flu cases among medical facility workers and others as a percentage of the total number of flu cases
C Counting flu cases contracted by medical facility workers while at work separately from those contracted by medical facility workers while not at work
D Comparing flu cases per hundred members of each group, rather than comparing total numbers of flu cases in each group
E Comparing flu cases contracted in medical facilities by people who do not work in those facilities to flu cases contracted in medical facilities by people who do work in them

mmon wrote:Last year, 1,200 Smithtown residents who work in hospitals and doctors' offices contracted the flu, and 1,100 Smithtown residents who are not employed in medical facilities contracted the flu. On the basis of these numbers, it is safe to conclude that the likelihood of contracting the flu was not much different for those who were employed in medical facilities than it was for those who were not.

Which of the following would reveal most clearly the irrationality of the conclusion above?

A Counting cases of the flu among home health care workers as well as cases among workers at medical facilities
B Expressing the difference between the numbers of flu cases among medical facility workers and others as a percentage of the total number of flu cases
C Counting flu cases contracted by medical facility workers while at work separately from those contracted by medical facility workers while not at work
D Comparing flu cases per hundred members of each group, rather than comparing total numbers of flu cases in each group
E Comparing flu cases contracted in medical facilities by people who do not work in those facilities to flu cases contracted in medical facilities by people who do work in them

This one is a "replica" of OG one dealing with US Army officers & Civilians.
IMO D!! Conceptual error of comparison of Numbers Vs Percentages.

In simpler terms, to understand (to weaken/to criticise the comparison of the 2 sets of group) let us take a example:

Let the total no . of people in hospital premises : 1500
No of affected : 1200

percentage affected : 80 %

Let no of people employed not in medical facilities : 6000
No of affected : 1100

Percentage : 18.3%

Certainly the base population makes difference .

On a side note its like saying I got 2nd rank in my class & my Mom said : Wow, what a brilliant You are my kid...
Then Dad asked : Beta, how many students are in your class: I said Only 2...

This shows " how stupid was my Mom to praise me..." ( After all I know my Mom just praises me for everything..Poor Mom she is..Hahhaha)

IMO D

I agree with D, but dont u think that the answer option should be reversed.

Good school example, which part of India you are, may be Andhra

gmatmachoman wrote:

mmon wrote:Last year, 1,200 Smithtown residents who work in hospitals and doctors' offices contracted the flu, and 1,100 Smithtown residents who are not employed in medical facilities contracted the flu. On the basis of these numbers, it is safe to conclude that the likelihood of contracting the flu was not much different for those who were employed in medical facilities than it was for those who were not.

Which of the following would reveal most clearly the irrationality of the conclusion above?

A Counting cases of the flu among home health care workers as well as cases among workers at medical facilities
B Expressing the difference between the numbers of flu cases among medical facility workers and others as a percentage of the total number of flu cases
C Counting flu cases contracted by medical facility workers while at work separately from those contracted by medical facility workers while not at work
D Comparing flu cases per hundred members of each group, rather than comparing total numbers of flu cases in each group
E Comparing flu cases contracted in medical facilities by people who do not work in those facilities to flu cases contracted in medical facilities by people who do work in them

This one is a "replica" of OG one dealing with US Army officers & Civilians.
IMO D!! Conceptual error of comparison of Numbers Vs Percentages.

In simpler terms, to understand (to weaken/to criticise the comparison of the 2 sets of group) let us take a example:

Let the total no . of people in hospital premises : 1500
No of affected : 1200

percentage affected : 80 %

Let no of people employed not in medical facilities : 6000
No of affected : 1100

Percentage : 18.3%

Certainly the base population makes difference .

On a side note its like saying I got 2nd rank in my class & my Mom said : Wow, what a brilliant You are my kid...
Then Dad asked : Beta, how many students are in your class: I said Only 2...

This shows " how stupid was my Mom to praise me..." ( After all I know my Mom just praises me for everything..Poor Mom she is..Hahhaha)

nileshdalvi wrote:I agree with D, but dont u think that the answer option should be reversed.

Yes I agree. In its present form, the argument is not comparing flu cases per hundred.