A or D??!!

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A or D??!!

by mehaksal » Wed Aug 08, 2012 11:30 pm
In Patton City, days are categorized as having heavy rainfall (more than two inches), moderate rainfall (more than one inch, but no more than two inches), light rainfall (at least a trace, but no more than one inch), or no rainfall. In 1990, there were fewer days with light rainfall than in 1910 and fewer with moderate rainfall, yet total rainfall for the year was 20 percent higher in 1990 than in 1910.

If the statements above are true, then it is also possible that in Patton City

(A) the number of days with heavy rainfall was lower in 1990 than in 1910
(B) the number of days with some rainfall, but no more than two inches, was the same in 1990 as in 1910
(C) the number of days with some rainfall, but no more than two inches, was higher in 1990 than in 1910
(D) the total number of inches of rain that fell on days with moderate rainfall in 1990 was more than twice what it had been in 1910
(E) the average amount of rainfall per month was lower in 1990 than in 1910
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by Kasia@EconomistGMAT » Thu Aug 09, 2012 7:27 am
The correct answer is A.
In 1990 there were fewer days of moderate rainfall (1<x<2) and light rainfall (x<1), but maybe on these days the average daily total was higher than on days with light and moderate rainfall in 1910.
e.g. 1990 daily average on the days with moderate rainfall could be 1,99 inch and in 1910 1,1.
In such a situation the total rainfall in 1990 could be higher than the total in 1910.
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by techyrajeev » Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:05 am
in the first look, I choose 'D' but D actually contradict premise itself. we can not have twice inch of rainfall (if in 1910 it was 1.1 inch, in 1990, it will become 2.2 inch and 2.2 inch rainfall is no more moderate rain)

A sounds more reasonable though I am still not fully convinced about A

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by KapTeacherEli » Sat Aug 11, 2012 11:19 am
techyrajeev wrote:in the first look, I choose 'D' but D actually contradict premise itself. we can not have twice inch of rainfall (if in 1910 it was 1.1 inch, in 1990, it will become 2.2 inch and 2.2 inch rainfall is no more moderate rain)

A sounds more reasonable though I am still not fully convinced about A

Here is a hypothetical construct

1910: 4 days with rain, 1 light, 0.5 inches, 1 moderate, 1.5 inches, 2 heavy, 2.5 inches. Total rainfall: 7 inches.

1990: 1 day with rain, heavy rainfall, 8.4 inches.

In this scenario, all the information in the statements is true (1990 has fewer--zero!--days with light or moderate rainfall, and has 20% more rain for the year). Additionally, answer choice (A) is true, with 1 heavy day in 1990 and 2 in 1910. So, choice (A) could be true, and it is the correct answer!
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www.kaptest.com/gmat

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by henryjejo » Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:41 pm
We can use a matrix and eliminate the answer choices B &C. D&E are also contradicting the statements in the argument. Therefore, we are left only with A, the correct answer.
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