From 1973 to 1976, total United States consumption of cigarettes incre

this employs a linear logic

population grew by 5 %
smokers grew by 3.6 %

per capita smokers, that is # of smokers/# of people

is less in 1976 than in 1973

Hence B

"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 the statements above are true, which of the following conclusions can be properly drawn?"

First impression: Statement seems to imply that there is a correlation between increase in population and increase in consumption and sale.


(A) United States manufacturers of tobacco products had higher profits in 1976 than in 1973.

Does higher sales necessarily means higher profits? I don't think so. Maybe there were discounts.

(B) Per capita consumption of cigarettes in the United States was lower in 1976 than in 1973.

Maybe not. Perhaps more people started to use so to even out the difference.

(C) The proportion of nonsmokers in the United States population dropped slightly between 1973 and 1976.

Increase in consumption could mean more people started to smoke or the same number of people were buying more cig.


(D) United States manufacturers of tobacco products realize a lower profit on cigarettes than on chewing tobacco.

Can't infer this.

(E) A large percentage of United States smokers switched from cigarettes to chewing tobacco between 1973 and 1976.

Increase does not imply switch.

For B: Can the increase in population offset the increase in consumption of cig?

I'm not sure what the answer is. Maybe B. Of the three verbal sections, CR is the hardest for me. I have trouble with percentages type questions. Please let me know if I'm over-analyzing or looking at the wrong things.

"B" is the right answer. Ques states that consumption grew not number of smokers. So say in 1973 there were 100 ppl in US with total cig consumption of 20 (per capita cons = 20/100). Now say cons rises by 5% that it becomes 21 but the population grew by 10% i.e it becomes 110
( per capita cons = 21/110). Now you see that per capita consumtion has decreased, per capita means consumption per person and not only smokers, ques doesn't say anything abt smokers and non smokers it is abt total population

A) New information presented about profits - Eliminate
B) Correct
C) New information about non-smokers presented - Eliminate. Even if true it doesn't exclude the possibility that smokers consume chewing tobacco as well.
D) Again new info about profit = Eliminate
E) Again new information touching the breakdown of consumption structure - Eliminate.

Given that GMAT sets a specific constraints on all answer choices in Must Be True questions that anything derived from the passage ought to be within the information provided answer B is the only choice that can be logically feasible.

well, this question is quite benign because it does not try to break down the will of test takers.
This question turns out to be nothing other than a normal data sufficient problem in quantitative section.
B is the answer because the increase in percentage of consumption is lower than the increase of the population.

1973 1976

Cigrattes increased by 3.4 %

Chewing increased by 18%
Tobacco

Population increased by 5%

(A) United States manufacturers of tobacco products had higher profits in 1976 than in 1973.
We only know about sales from of tobacco and cigrattes and not about profit. The profit might reduce if there is discount given in the price. So INCORRECT.

(B) Per capita consumption of cigarettes in the United States was lower in 1976 than in 1973.
Cigarettes sales has increased by 3.4% so it has become 1.034 S and population increased by 5%, so it has become 1.05%. So per capita consumption has

(C) The proportion of nonsmokers in the United States population dropped slightly between 1973 and 1976.
according to per capita consumption of cigarettes, proportion of non smokers in the US has increased.

(D)United States manufacturers of tobacco products realize a lower profit on cigarettes than on chewing tobacco.
There is no description of profits given in the argument.Only details of the sales is given in the argument.

(E) A large percentage of United States smokers switched from cigarettes to chewing tobacco between 1973 and 1976.
There is no such evidence given in the argument. The percentage decrease in the no of cigarette can only show that the difference amount of percentage has left smoking.

1973

Consumption = x
Population = p
Consumption/Population = x/p

1976

Consumption = 1.034x
Population = 1.05p
COnsumption/Population = (1.034x/1.05p) = 0.9848*(x/p)

Answer : B

WE CANNOT COMMENT ON PROFIT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THE PRICE OF CIGARETTES AND TOBACCO???

IS IT?

HI Bob,

As this is an inference question so answer will be based on "only" the information provided in the text. So you are correct in saying that since no profit information is provided, no profit conclusion can be derived

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GMATNinjaTwo VeritasKarishma nightblade354

Please explain why option C is wrong? If the percentage of smokers increased by 3.4% and the population increased by only 5%. Shouldn't the proportion of non-smokers decrease??
Let X% be smokers in 1973. In 1976 its x+3.4. There is a decrease in nonsmokers by 3.4%.

Could you please clarify my doubt.

Consumption of cigs increased 3.4%
Sales of tobacco rose 18%
Population increased 5%

(A) United States manufacturers of tobacco products had higher profits in 1976 than in 1973.
Nothing is known about the cost of production and the revenue earned. We cannot say anything about profits.

(B) Per capita consumption of cigarettes in the United States was lower in 1976 than in 1973.
True.
Per capita consumption is given by Consumption/Population.
How many people actually smoke is not the concern.

Per capita consumption in 1973 = C/P

Per capita consumption in 1976 = C(1 + 3.4/100) / P(1 + 5/100) = .985 * (C/P)

So per capita consumption in 1976 is less than per capita consumption is 1973.

(C) The proportion of nonsmokers in the United States population dropped slightly between 1973 and 1976.

As we said before, we cannot find the proportion of actual smokers/non smokers.

(D) United States manufacturers of tobacco products realize a lower profit on cigarettes than on chewing tobacco.

Again, we need the cost of production and revenue to talk about profits.

(E) A large percentage of United States smokers switched from cigarettes to chewing tobacco between 1973 and 1976.

We cannot establish this. Whether number of smokers increased/decreased we don't know. Same goes for number of tobacco chewers.

Answer (B)

Here, the percentage of consumption has only increased but not the number of non smokers.
We cannot determine without valid reason whether the percentage of non smokers has been increased or not.
It can be possible that due to reduction in prices of cigarettes and tobacco , ppl ( smokers) are taking more number of cigarettes this time equal to the percentage given .
As per B, population is also increased by 5% but the increase in consumption is 3.4. So. Per- capita consumption ( consumption by each individual) must have decreased.

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