gmat_perfect wrote:From 1973 to 1976, total United States consumption of cigarettes increased 3.4 percent, and total sales of chewing tobacco rose 18.0 percent. During the same period, total United States population increased 5.0 percent.

If statement above are true, which of the following conclusions can be properly drawn?

A. United States manufacturers of tobacco products had higher profits in1976 than in 1973 (profits not mentioned)
B. Per capita consumption of cigarettes in the United States was lower in 1976 than 1973 (ratio 1034/1050<1 --> lower in 1976)

C. The proportion of nonsmokers in the United States population dropped slightly between 1973 and 1976 (nonsmokers not discussed. It can happen any increase in smoking is from the increase in quanity of existing smokers)
D. United States manufacturers of tobacco products realize a lower profit on cigarettes than on chewing tobacco (profits not mentioned)
E. A large percentage of United States smokers switched cigarettes to chewing tobacco between 1973 and 1976. (can't say...quite possible any increase in tobacoo consumption is due to nonsmokers interest in tobacco)

selango wrote:Can anyone explain with the following example?

1973 1976
-------------------------------------------------------

cigarettes--1000 1034

tobacco--- 1000 1180

population-- 1500 1575

tpr-becky wrote:I fully agree with PNK - although this looks like a math question it is really about the information they give you - they only tell you the % increase of cigarretts, chewing and population - therefore those are the only things you can infer about. B is the only answer which deals with these facts - we don't know profits, we don't know non-smokers, and we don't know who switched. Don't make CR about math.

nipunkathuria wrote:

tpr-becky wrote:I fully agree with PNK - although this looks like a math question it is really about the information they give you - they only tell you the % increase of cigarretts, chewing and population - therefore those are the only things you can infer about. B is the only answer which deals with these facts - we don't know profits, we don't know non-smokers, and we don't know who switched. Don't make CR about math.

Hi, just wanted to question the assessment given above..It may be so that in 1976 the increase in the consumption of the cigg has not been contributed by the increased population; may be that the old population only increased their consumption. This was the reason y i eliminated the option B. Please confirm my reasoning.

Testluv wrote:Received a pm.

selango wrote:Can anyone explain with the following example?

1973 1976
-------------------------------------------------------

cigarettes--1000 1034

tobacco--- 1000 1180

population-- 1500 1575

per capita consumption of cigarettes in '73: 1000/1500 = 0.666
per capita consumption of cigarettes in '76: 1034/1575 = approx 0.65

Thus, per capita consumption must have decreased.

________

I wouldn't have solved it this way though. Notice that population growth outpaced growth rate of cigarette consumption. Thus, cigerattes consumed per person (per capita) must have decreased.

Testluv wrote:Received a pm.

selango wrote:Can anyone explain with the following example?

1973 1976
-------------------------------------------------------

cigarettes--1000 1034

tobacco--- 1000 1180

population-- 1500 1575

per capita consumption of cigarettes in '73: 1000/1500 = 0.666
per capita consumption of cigarettes in '76: 1034/1575 = approx 0.65

Thus, per capita consumption must have decreased.

________

I wouldn't have solved it this way though. Notice that population growth outpaced growth rate of cigarette consumption. Thus, cigerattes consumed per person (per capita) must have decreased.