picking between last 2 on GMAT 2.0 EXAM

Expert replies

fangtray: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 273; Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:50 amFollowed by: 3 members; Thanked: 5 times

by fangtray » Sun May 13, 2012 3:03 am

Radio stations with radio data system (RDS) technology broadcast special program information that only radios with an RDS feature can receive. Between 1994 and 1996, the number of RDS radio stations in Verdland increased from 250 to 600. However, since the number of RDS-equipped radios in Verdland was about the same in 1996 as in 1994, the number of Verdlanders receiving the special program information probably did not increase significantly.

a. Few if any of the RDS radio stations that began broadcasting in Verdland after 1994 broadcast to people with RDS-equipped radios living in areas not previously reached by RDS stations.

b. In 1996, Verdlanders who did not own radios equipped to receive RDS could not receive any programming from the RDS radio stations that began broadcasting in Verdland after 1994.

Please evaluate my thought process for negating these 2 statements to see if the argument is weakened.

a. If many of the RDS radio stations that began broadcasting in Verdland after 1994 broadcasted to people with RDS radios living in areas that previously could not be reached by RDS stations, then the 350 increase in number of radio stations correlates to an increase in listeners.

b. 1996, if Vernlanders who did not own RDS radios COULD receive broadcasting from the RDS radio stations, then the increase of 350 radio stations without the increase in RDS radios correlates to an increase in listeners.

both negatation works! where am i going wrong?

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Critical Reasoning | Sun May 13, 2012 3:03 am

Bill@VeritasPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1248; Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pmFollowed by: 192 members; Location: Everywhere; Thanked: 503 times; GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Sun May 13, 2012 7:29 am

B doesn't work. Even if they can now receive broadcasting, they still can't received the special program information because they don't have RDS radios.

Join Veritas Prep's 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test

Like this post

fangtray: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 273; Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:50 amFollowed by: 3 members; Thanked: 5 times

by fangtray » Sun May 13, 2012 3:26 pm

Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:B doesn't work. Even if they can now receive broadcasting, they still can't received the special program information because they don't have RDS radios.

so B is wrong because they didn't specify what kind of programming the non-RDS radios could pick up from RDS radio stations even though RDS radio station frequencies are picked up by non-RDS radios?

Like this post

Bill@VeritasPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1248; Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pmFollowed by: 192 members; Location: Everywhere; Thanked: 503 times; GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Sun May 13, 2012 3:59 pm

The conclusion was about the special program information: "the number of Verdlanders receiving the special program information probably did not increase significantly." Even if non-RDS radios could pick up the broadcasts, they would not receive that special information. Thus, it has no effect on the conclusion.

Join Veritas Prep's 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test

Like this post

fangtray: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 273; Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:50 amFollowed by: 3 members; Thanked: 5 times

by fangtray » Mon May 14, 2012 1:13 am

Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:The conclusion was about the special program information: "the number of Verdlanders receiving the special program information probably did not increase significantly." Even if non-RDS radios could pick up the broadcasts, they would not receive that special information. Thus, it has no effect on the conclusion.

why would they not receive the special information?

Like this post

GMATGuruNY: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 15539; Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pmFollowed by: 1906 members; Location: New York, NY; Thanked: 13060 times; GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Mon May 14, 2012 5:06 am

I posted an explanation for this CR here:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/rds-technology-t99459.html

Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3

Like this post

GMATGuruNY: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 15539; Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pmFollowed by: 1906 members; Location: New York, NY; Thanked: 13060 times; GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Mon May 14, 2012 5:32 am

fangtray wrote:Radio stations with radio data system (RDS) technology broadcast special program information that only radios with an RDS feature can receive. Between 1994 and 1996, the number of RDS radio stations in Verdland increased from 250 to 600. However, since the number of RDS-equipped radios in Verdland was about the same in 1996 as in 1994, the number of Verdlanders receiving the special program information probably did not increase significantly.

a. Few if any of the RDS radio stations that began broadcasting in Verdland after 1994 broadcast to people with RDS-equipped radios living in areas not previously reached by RDS stations.

b. In 1996, Verdlanders who did not own radios equipped to receive RDS could not receive any programming from the RDS radio stations that began broadcasting in Verdland after 1994.

Please evaluate my thought process for negating these 2 statements to see if the argument is weakened.

a. If many of the RDS radio stations that began broadcasting in Verdland after 1994 broadcasted to people with RDS radios living in areas that previously could not be reached by RDS stations, then the 350 increase in number of radio stations correlates to an increase in listeners.

b. 1996, if Vernlanders who did not own RDS radios COULD receive broadcasting from the RDS radio stations, then the increase of 350 radio stations without the increase in RDS radios correlates to an increase in listeners.

both negatation works! where am i going wrong?

Answer choice B, negated: Verdlanders who did not own radios equipped to receive RDS could receive SOME programming from the RDS radio stations.
PREMISE: ONLY RADIOS WITH AN RDS FEATURE can receive the special program information.
CONCLUSION: The number of Verdlanders receiving the SPECIAL program information probably did not increase significantly.

The negation of B has no effect on the conclusion: Even if the Verdlanders without RDS radios could receive SOME programming, they still could NOT receive the SPECIAL program information.
Since the negation of B does not invalidate the conclusion, B is not the necessary assumption.
Eliminate B.

Like this post

Bill@VeritasPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1248; Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pmFollowed by: 192 members; Location: Everywhere; Thanked: 503 times; GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Mon May 14, 2012 7:31 am

fangtray wrote:
Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:The conclusion was about the special program information: "the number of Verdlanders receiving the special program information probably did not increase significantly." Even if non-RDS radios could pick up the broadcasts, they would not receive that special information. Thus, it has no effect on the conclusion.
why would they not receive the special information?

Because the special information requires an RDS radio: "special program information that only radios with an RDS feature can receive."

Join Veritas Prep's 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test

Like this post

fangtray: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 273; Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:50 amFollowed by: 3 members; Thanked: 5 times

by fangtray » Mon May 14, 2012 6:11 pm

Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:
fangtray wrote:
Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:The conclusion was about the special program information: "the number of Verdlanders receiving the special program information probably did not increase significantly." Even if non-RDS radios could pick up the broadcasts, they would not receive that special information. Thus, it has no effect on the conclusion.
why would they not receive the special information?
Because the special information requires an RDS radio: "special program information that only radios with an RDS feature can receive."

Gotcha. thanks Bill! I was assuming that because a regular non-RDS radio can receive broadcasting from RDS radio stations, they would also receive special information broadcasts as well.. I guess the radio just goes into static when the RDS radio station begins a special information broadcast?

I'm picturing someone with a non-RDS radio, listening to music from a RDS radio station, and suddenly when the RDS radio station begins to broadcast special information, the listener gets nothing but static..or something causes the radio to miraculously turn off. Perhaps with these CR questions you need to not assume ANYTHING whatsoever instead of what is stated in the premise.

Like this post

Bill@VeritasPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1248; Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pmFollowed by: 192 members; Location: Everywhere; Thanked: 503 times; GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Mon May 14, 2012 6:36 pm

I interpreted it as being broadcast alongside the normal audio transmission, like how some car radios will display "now playing" information for the current radio station. We're definitely getting beyond the scope of the question at that point, though

Join Veritas Prep's 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test

Like this post

Post new topic Post Reply

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

560 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review