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Percentages

by mgmt_gmat » Fri Feb 12, 2010 1:35 am
The percentage of households with an annual income of more than $40,000 is higher in
Merton county than in any other county. However, the percentage of households with an
annual income of $60,000 or more is highest in Sommer county.


If the statements above are true, which of the following can properly be concluded on the
basis of them?


A. No household in Merton county has an annual income of $60,000 or more.
B. Some households in Merton county have an annual income between $40,000 and
$60,000.
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C. The number of households with an annual income of more than $40,000 is greater
in Merton than in Sommer county.
D. Average annual household income is higher in Sommer than in Merton county.
E. The percentage of households with an annual income of $80,000 is higher in
Sommer than in Merton county.
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by komal » Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:18 am
A. No household in Merton county has an annual income of $60,000 or more.
Incorrect : 'NO' is an extreme word here. Ruled Out.

B. Some households in Merton county have an annual income between $40,000 and $60,000.
Correct : This can be correctly inferred from the above information.

C. The number of households with an annual income of more than $40,000 is greater in Merton than in Sommer county.
Incorrect : There is no mention of NUMBERS in the stimulus above. Number v/s percentage issue here. Eliminated.

D. Average annual household income is higher in Sommer than in Merton county.
Correct : We cannot infer this from the stimulus above.

E. The percentage of households with an annual income of $80,000 is higher in Sommer than in Merton county.
Incorrect : If Merton has highest percentage of 40k and sommer highest percentage of more than 60k, it is also possible that Merton has % of 80k. Hence this cannot be inferred from the passage above.
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by reply2spg » Wed Mar 17, 2010 11:33 am
IMO B is as mentioned by Komal.

@Komal - I guess you mean to say incorrect to option D
komal wrote:A. No household in Merton county has an annual income of $60,000 or more.
Incorrect : 'NO' is an extreme word here. Ruled Out.

B. Some households in Merton county have an annual income between $40,000 and $60,000.
Correct : This can be correctly inferred from the above information.

C. The number of households with an annual income of more than $40,000 is greater in Merton than in Sommer county.
Incorrect : There is no mention of NUMBERS in the stimulus above. Number v/s percentage issue here. Eliminated.

D. Average annual household income is higher in Sommer than in Merton county.
Correct : We cannot infer this from the stimulus above.

E. The percentage of households with an annual income of $80,000 is higher in Sommer than in Merton county.
Incorrect : If Merton has highest percentage of 40k and sommer highest percentage of more than 60k, it is also possible that Merton has % of 80k. Hence this cannot be inferred from the passage above.
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by harshavardhanc » Wed Mar 17, 2010 11:59 am
reply2spg wrote:IMO B is as mentioned by Komal.

@Komal - I guess you mean to say incorrect to option D
my two cents :

You cannot compare two percentages until and unless their denominators are same.

Denominators in our case will the the two total populations. Nothing is mentioned about them. Hence, any option which compares these two cities is incorrect. You can cross-off options C,D and E without even thinking about them at all. :) ( you've saved some time ! lottery! :) )

Principles of Logic say :

You cannot have NOT or NO in the conclusion, until and unless you have negativity in the premise/premises. Our stimulus has premises which have plain numbers. Hence, A cannot be the answer.

You are left with B. Hobson's choice! pick it.
Regards,
Harsha
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by komal » Wed Mar 17, 2010 4:44 pm
reply2spg wrote:IMO B is as mentioned by Komal.

@ Komal - I guess you mean to say incorrect to option D[ve. Number v/s percentage issue here. Eliminated.

Yes thats what I meant. Sorry for the typing error.
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by Phirozz » Wed Mar 17, 2010 4:46 pm
IMO B
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