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# Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight.

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Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. [#permalink]  17 Nov 2006, 03:30
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12. Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. As a result of astonishing recent technological advances, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is one-tenth of what it was 20 years ago, whereas the corresponding cost for traditional plants, which burn fossil fuels, has increased. Thus, photovoltaic power plants offer a less expensive approach to meeting demand for electricity than do traditional power plants.
The conclusion of the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed?
(A) The cost of producing electric power at traditional plants has increased over the past 20 years.
(B) Twenty years ago, traditional power plants were producing 10 times more electric power than were photovoltaic plants.
(C) None of the recent technological advances in producing electric power at photovoltaic plants can be applied to producing power at traditional plants.
(D) Twenty years ago, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants was less than 20 times the cost of producing power at traditional plants.
(E) The cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants is expected to decrease further, while the cost of producing power at traditional plants is not expected to decrease.
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Re: CR-Photovoltaic power plants [#permalink]  17 Nov 2006, 03:45
jyotsnasarabu wrote:
12. Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. As a result of astonishing recent technological advances, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is one-tenth of what it was 20 years ago, whereas the corresponding cost for traditional plants, which burn fossil fuels, has increased. Thus, photovoltaic power plants offer a less expensive approach to meeting demand for electricity than do traditional power plants.
The conclusion of the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed?
(A) The cost of producing electric power at traditional plants has increased over the past 20 years.
(B) Twenty years ago, traditional power plants were producing 10 times more electric power than were photovoltaic plants.
(C) None of the recent technological advances in producing electric power at photovoltaic plants can be applied to producing power at traditional plants.
(D) Twenty years ago, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants was less than 20 times the cost of producing power at traditional plants.

Lets assume cost of manufacturing 1 unit electricity by traditional means = $1 Cost of manufacturing 1 unit of electricty by Photovoltaic power plants =$ 19 (according to the argument it has to be less than 20 times the cost of traditional way)

Because of advances the cost of manufacturing electricity by Photovoltaic power plants has come down by 20 times. That means today cost of producting 1 unit electricity that way = $19/20 =$0.95

And the cost of manufacturing in traditional way has increased, which means 1 unit cost is more than $1$0.95 <$1 (E) The cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants is expected to decrease further, while the cost of producing power at traditional plants is not expected to decrease. _________________ The path is long, but self-surrender makes it short; the way is difficult, but perfect trust makes it easy. VP Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 1134 Location: Bangalore Followers: 2 Kudos [?]: 31 [0], given: 0 Re: CR-Photovoltaic power plants [#permalink] 17 Nov 2006, 04:24 ak_idc wrote: jyotsnasarabu wrote: 12. Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. As a result of astonishing recent technological advances, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is one-tenth of what it was 20 years ago, whereas the corresponding cost for traditional plants, which burn fossil fuels, has increased. Thus, photovoltaic power plants offer a less expensive approach to meeting demand for electricity than do traditional power plants. The conclusion of the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed? (A) The cost of producing electric power at traditional plants has increased over the past 20 years. (B) Twenty years ago, traditional power plants were producing 10 times more electric power than were photovoltaic plants. (C) None of the recent technological advances in producing electric power at photovoltaic plants can be applied to producing power at traditional plants. (D) Twenty years ago, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants was less than 20 times the cost of producing power at traditional plants. My answer. Lets assume cost of manufacturing 1 unit electricity by traditional means =$1

Cost of manufacturing 1 unit of electricty by Photovoltaic power plants = $19 (according to the argument it has to be less than 20 times the cost of traditional way) Because of advances the cost of manufacturing electricity by Photovoltaic power plants has come down by 20 times. That means today cost of producting 1 unit electricity that way =$19/20 = $0.95 And the cost of manufacturing in traditional way has increased, which means 1 unit cost is more than$1

$0.95 <$1

(E) The cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants is expected to decrease further, while the cost of producing power at traditional plants is not expected to decrease.

Thats what I thought too. But the argument says:

As a result of astonishing recent technological advances, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is one-tenth of what it was 20 years ago.
twenty years ago = $19 now = (1/10) *$19 = $1.9$1.9 > $1.0 So it doesnt hold good! Am I missing something here? Senior Manager Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 341 Location: Washington DC Followers: 1 Kudos [?]: 30 [0], given: 0 [#permalink] 17 Nov 2006, 05:44 D it is.. Director Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 716 Followers: 1 Kudos [?]: 9 [0], given: 0 Re: CR-Photovoltaic power plants [#permalink] 17 Nov 2006, 11:10 ak_idc wrote: jyotsnasarabu wrote: 12. Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. As a result of astonishing recent technological advances, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is one-tenth of what it was 20 years ago, whereas the corresponding cost for traditional plants, which burn fossil fuels, has increased. Thus, photovoltaic power plants offer a less expensive approach to meeting demand for electricity than do traditional power plants. The conclusion of the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed? (A) The cost of producing electric power at traditional plants has increased over the past 20 years. (B) Twenty years ago, traditional power plants were producing 10 times more electric power than were photovoltaic plants. (C) None of the recent technological advances in producing electric power at photovoltaic plants can be applied to producing power at traditional plants. (D) Twenty years ago, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants was less than 20 times the cost of producing power at traditional plants. My answer. Lets assume cost of manufacturing 1 unit electricity by traditional means =$1

Cost of manufacturing 1 unit of electricty by Photovoltaic power plants = $19 (according to the argument it has to be less than 20 times the cost of traditional way) Because of advances the cost of manufacturing electricity by Photovoltaic power plants has come down by 20 times. That means today cost of producting 1 unit electricity that way =$19/20 = $0.95 And the cost of manufacturing in traditional way has increased, which means 1 unit cost is more than$1

$0.95 <$1

(E) The cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants is expected to decrease further, while the cost of producing power at traditional plants is not expected to decrease.

Even though D quant analysis proves that photo plant offered less expansive than traditional in the past, We need to assume that this pattern would go same in the future as E says right.

Somehow I like E better than D.

Could you ellaborate something about E option, please ? I'm missing something here ...
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Re: CR-Photovoltaic power plants [#permalink]  17 Nov 2006, 15:46
jyotsnasarabu wrote:
12. Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. As a result of astonishing recent technological advances, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is one-tenth of what it was 20 years ago, whereas the corresponding cost for traditional plants, which burn fossil fuels, has increased. Thus, photovoltaic power plants offer a less expensive approach to meeting demand for electricity than do traditional power plants.
The conclusion of the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed?
(A) The cost of producing electric power at traditional plants has increased over the past 20 years.
(B) Twenty years ago, traditional power plants were producing 10 times more electric power than were photovoltaic plants.
(C) None of the recent technological advances in producing electric power at photovoltaic plants can be applied to producing power at traditional plants.
(D) Twenty years ago, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants was less than 20 times the cost of producing power at traditional plants.
(E) The cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants is expected to decrease further, while the cost of producing power at traditional plants is not expected to decrease.

I think it is D. The statment does not say that electric plants production is cheaper than traditional plants. It just draws a correlation between one going up and the other going down.
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GIVE ME D !
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Swagatalakshmi wrote:
GIVE ME D !

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If (D) is right answer, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants is now cheaper than corresponding cost for traditional plants?
I don't understand it. I think there are no right answer in this question.
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Re: CR-Photovoltaic power plants [#permalink]  18 Nov 2006, 04:40
kripalkavi wrote:
ak_idc wrote:
jyotsnasarabu wrote:
12. Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. As a result of astonishing recent technological advances, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is one-tenth of what it was 20 years ago, whereas the corresponding cost for traditional plants, which burn fossil fuels, has increased. Thus, photovoltaic power plants offer a less expensive approach to meeting demand for electricity than do traditional power plants.
The conclusion of the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed?
(A) The cost of producing electric power at traditional plants has increased over the past 20 years.
(B) Twenty years ago, traditional power plants were producing 10 times more electric power than were photovoltaic plants.
(C) None of the recent technological advances in producing electric power at photovoltaic plants can be applied to producing power at traditional plants.
(D) Twenty years ago, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants was less than 20 times the cost of producing power at traditional plants.

Lets assume cost of manufacturing 1 unit electricity by traditional means = $1 Cost of manufacturing 1 unit of electricty by Photovoltaic power plants =$ 19 (according to the argument it has to be less than 20 times the cost of traditional way)

Because of advances the cost of manufacturing electricity by Photovoltaic power plants has come down by 20 times. That means today cost of producting 1 unit electricity that way = $19/20 =$0.95

And the cost of manufacturing in traditional way has increased, which means 1 unit cost is more than $1$0.95 <$1 (E) The cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plants is expected to decrease further, while the cost of producing power at traditional plants is not expected to decrease. Thats what I thought too. But the argument says: As a result of astonishing recent technological advances, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is one-tenth of what it was 20 years ago. twenty years ago =$19
now = (1/10) * $19 =$1.9
$1.9 >$ 1.0
So it doesnt hold good! Am I missing something here?

I agree with ur point. I was mistaken in dividing with 20. But "it was less than 20 times the cost of producing power," so we can take Cost of manufacturing 1 unit of electricty by Photovoltaic power plants = \$ 9.

In that case D remains to be an answer.
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Clearly D which establishes the base year comparison. E is not required if we know that today, electricity IS ALREADY cheaper as a means of producing electricity.
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D 2
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