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Freak Cola

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Freak Cola

by hitmewithgmat » Tue Jan 13, 2009 11:10 pm
According to a survey of consumers conducted one week before the end of a national call-in campaign to decide the newest flavor of Freak Cola, more of those surveyed responded that they enjoyed the Citrusea Swirl flavor than responded that they enjoyed any other flavor choice. Regardless of the survey results, a differente flavor, Vanilla Bonanza, was the national favorite by a considerable percentage.

Each of the following, if true, contributes to a resolution of the discrepancy described above EXCEPT:

A) Freak Cola made an announcemnt four days before the end of the call-in campaign stating that the third option, VeriBlueBeri, was being removed from consideration as the new flavor choice.

B) The survey was conducted only on the east coast, and the percentage of people thought to like Vanilla Bonanza on the east coast is much smaller than the percentage who liked Citrusea Swirl.

C) More than 60% of those responding to the survey in favor of Vanilla Bonanza stated they were likely to call in and vote, whereas only 25% of those supporting Citrusea Swirl claimed they would be calling in their votes.

D) A smaller percentage of those faovring the Vanilla Bonanza flavor knew the call-in number than did those favoring Citrusea Swirl.

E) The entire survey was developed and conducted by members of the Freak Cola design team that created Citrusea Swirl.


Is anyone who can explain why A contributes to a resolution of the paradox?
Why removal of unmentioned third flavor that was previously affecting the total vote figures explains the paradox?


Thank you.

OA is D
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by canada_sms » Tue Jan 13, 2009 11:28 pm
If an answer choice shows how the situation could exist than it successfully resolves the paradox.

For answer choice A, i think the trick it to realize that the survey taken one week before the final call-in deadline does not necessarily correspond with the final call-in vote.

Say the survey results are:

Citrusea (40%)
Vanilla (30%)
VeriBlueBeri (30%)

It's conceivable that when VeriBlueBeri gets pulled from consideration a few days after the survey that all the people who voted for it in the survey switch their vote to Vanilla for their final call-in vote.
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Freak Cola

by nravinandan » Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:04 am
Please dont spoil the fun by providing the answers rightaway. Let us discuss.

We have a paradox:
According to survery, more people enjoyed Citrusea Swirl flavor
But, Vanilla Bonanza, was the national favorite.

Any option explaining the paradox would address both the above issues.

Option A does not explain about the survey.
Also, I am not sure if we can assume that the removal of VeriBlueBeri resulted in Vanilla Bonanza being the National favourite.

Hence, Option A does not explain the paradox.
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A

by hitmewithgmat » Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:27 am
A DOES explain the paradox.
We are looking for the answer EXCEPT.

My question to you all is why A CAN EXPLAIN the discrepancy?
Any takers?
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by hitmewithgmat » Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:49 am
canada_sms wrote:If an answer choice shows how the situation could exist than it successfully resolves the paradox.

For answer choice A, i think the trick it to realize that the survey taken one week before the final call-in deadline does not necessarily correspond with the final call-in vote.

Say the survey results are:

Citrusea (40%)
Vanilla (30%)
VeriBlueBeri (30%)

It's conceivable that when VeriBlueBeri gets pulled from consideration a few days after the survey that all the people who voted for it in the survey switch their vote to Vanilla for their final call-in vote.

yes, but it doesnt really explain that well, i think. i think it's not sufficient to explain the paradox.
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by pandeyvineet24 » Wed Jan 14, 2009 8:45 am
i was stuck between D and E.

D talks about percentages so rejected D and chose E

How does E resolve the discrepancy ?
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by canada_sms » Wed Jan 14, 2009 8:50 am
So I think most people would get down to answers A and D. I've explained why I think A resolves the paradox. It might not be very strong, i agree.

Examining choice D, if Citrusea was in the lead in the survey and Vanilla was in second place, then if a smaller percentage of Vanilla voters (vs. Citrusea voters) knew the call-in number that would add more evidence to the case that Citrusea should have won. That's all it does. If anything it makes the paradox even more prevalent vs. resolving.

In my opinion A does a better job resolving the paradox than D and hence choose D as the answer.

What's the source of this question btw?
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by hitmewithgmat » Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:24 pm
it's from LSAT examprep by Pearson Education.

The answer explains (from the book) says...


"The paradox presented is centered on the fact that although more people in the survey claimed to like Cirusea Swirl, Vanilla Bonanza still wno the nationa lcall-in vote. A variety of thing scould resolve this discrepancy, including...
A) the removal of an unmentioned thrid flavor that was previously affecting total vote figures,
B)an inaccurate sample region that did not give national information,
C)lack of motivation by Citrusea Swirl proponents to call in, or
E) biaas on the part of those developing the survey.

D) The percentage of Vanilla Bonanza supporters who knew the call-in number adds no relevant facts to the scenario that could hlep to explain the discrepancy in the survey results...."

Obivously, I knew the answer is D. However, I was not sure why A can explain the paradox. however, no one gives me a solid explanation... come on experts,...please...
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by yalanand » Fri Jan 16, 2009 2:14 am
Hey its simple :

A says

A) Freak Cola made an announcemnt four days before the end of the call-in campaign stating that the third option, VeriBlueBeri, was being removed from consideration as the new flavor choice.

So lets take an example :

C + V+ VB =100

C= Citrusea Swirl flavor (Votes) (40% highest)
VB = Vanilla Bonanza (30% second highest)
V = VeriBlueBeri (30% least)

Now since V option was removed 4 days before the end date...it might so happen that majority of V's 30% will shift to VB

So new standing is


VB = Vanilla Bonanza (Votes) (nearly 60% highest)
C= Citrusea Swirl flavor( nearly 40% second highest)

Hope it explains
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by logitech » Fri Jan 16, 2009 2:28 am
yalanand wrote:Hey its simple :

A says

A) Freak Cola made an announcemnt four days before the end of the call-in campaign stating that the third option, VeriBlueBeri, was being removed from consideration as the new flavor choice.

So lets take an example :

C + V+ VB =100

C= Citrusea Swirl flavor (Votes) (40% highest)
VB = Vanilla Bonanza (30% second highest)
V = VeriBlueBeri (30% least)

Now since V option was removed 4 days before the end date...it might so happen that majority of V's 30% will shift to VB

So new standing is


VB = Vanilla Bonanza (Votes) (nearly 60% highest)
C= Citrusea Swirl flavor( nearly 40% second highest)

Hope it explains
Well, clearly this option leaves an ambiguity behind it.

VeriBlueBeri voters might:

1) Might not choose any of the remaining flavors
2) vote equally between the remaining choice
3) Vote more to Vanilla
4) Vote more to Citrus

and bla bla..now we are ASSUMING that they all decided to vote for Vanilla...well that's quite a stretch guys! :)
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by canada_sms » Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:24 am
I agree logitech. There definitely are some cracks but the door is slightly open at least with answer choice A. If we have to choose the best answer between A and D I think D is a better choice.

Maybe the question stem is key here. The question stem doesn't say "all of these resolve the paradox EXCEPT" rather it says "Each of the following, if true, contributes to a resolution of the discrepancy EXCEPT". Fully resolving and contributing to a resolution are different things.

If A contributes to the resolving of the paradox. One could consider this a necessary condition though not a sufficient condition. D does not contribute to the resolving of the paradox at all however.

Perhaps this is an added complexity of LSAT resolve the paradox questions that's not normally seen on the GMAT?
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by Stacey Koprince » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:16 am
I received a PM asking me to comment. There are some differences between LSAT and GMAT, so that could be part of the issue here.

cons survey 1 wk before end of campaign
respondents preferred CS to others.
BUT VB won the campaign by a lot.

This two facts seem to be contradictory. What additional info might make them not be quite as contradictory as they seem right now?

A) VBB (#3) removed from competition before it was over. Competition still going on, so VBB people might've voted for their second favorite instead, which could've been VB. So that might explain discrepancy. Hmm. A little weak / tempting - leave in for now but cross off it find something better.

B) survey was limited in geographical size. Campaign was national. This could definitely explain the discrepancy, esp. given the stats listed in the rest of this choice. Eliminate.

C) survey 60% of VB fans said they'd vote; only 25% of CS fans said they'd vote. Also could definitely explain the discrepancy. Eliminate.

D) Smaller % of VB fans than CS fans knew the call-in number. More people ended up voting for VB, so the "smaller % of VB" stat could still leave more people voting for VB. This choice still allows the given circumstances to be true, yes, but it does not specifically explain why more survey respondents chose CS, even though VB won the call-in contest. And that's our task here - to resolve the paradox, not just to show that the given stats could be true. Go back and eliminate A - this is better.

E) survey made by CS people - so could be biased. Definitely could explain - eliminate.

Note that if A had not specifically said that the removal of the third flavor occurred BEFORE the contest was over, then that choice could not explain the discrepancy. The idea is that the knowledge that VBB could NOT win caused people to change their behavior and vote for something other than their #1 choice (VBB).
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by samanthaJ79 » Fri May 13, 2016 3:37 am
A seems to be the best choice
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