Computer manufacturers have sought to make computer chips ever smaller

Question

Computer manufacturers have sought to make computer chips ever smaller, since decreasing the size of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) chip-without making that CPU chip any less sophisticated-will proportionally increase the speed of the CPU chip and the computer containing it. But since CPU chips cannot be made significantly smaller without decreasing their sophistication, computers cannot currently be made significantly faster.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

(A) Computers cannot currently be made faster unless their CPU chips are made smaller.
(B) Even if CPU chips are made slightly less sophisticated, they cannot currently be made much smaller.
(C) If both the size and the sophistication of a CPU chip are decreased, the speed of that chip will decrease.
(D) Few, if any, computer manufacturers believe that computers can be made significantly faster.
(E) Increasing the sophistication of a CPU chip without increasing its size will proportionally increase its speed.

eabhgoy · Answer

From the stimulus we know:

1) Decreasing the size of CPU without making it any less sophisticated-will proportionally increase the speed of the computer
2) But since making smaller is directly proportional to decreasing sophistication --> computers cannot be made faster.

Let's look at the answer choices:

(A) Computers cannot currently be made faster unless their CPU chips are made smaller.
This seems to be correct as the argument focusses only on making chips smaller to increase speed. All other possibilities are ignored.

(B) Even if CPU chips are made slightly less sophisticated, they cannot currently be made much smaller.
This is contrary to the argument. The argument states that we can make the chips smaller at the expense of sophistication. Hence incorrect.

(C) If both the size and the sophistication of a CPU chip are decreased, the speed of that chip will decrease.
I took some time to eliminate this answer. But in the end, decided against it as this is not an assumption but is actually stated in the passage. The last line.

(D) Few, if any, computer manufacturers believe that computers can be made significantly faster.
Irrelevant

(E) Increasing the sophistication of a CPU chip without increasing its size will proportionally increase its speed.
Can be concluded from the passage. Not an assumption.

Hence A is the correct answer.

hoanghp · Answer

What is the source of this question if I may ask? All other options are bad but A is bad too. Computers cannot be made SIGNIFICANTLY faster does not mean that it can't be made faster at all...

rvgmat12 · Answer

From Manhattan Forum:

Question Type:
Necessary Assumption (depends on this assumption)

Stimulus Breakdown:
Conclusion: Computers can't currently be made significantly faster.
Evidence: CPU chips can't currently be made significantly smaller (w/o a decrease in sophistication) and making CPU ships smaller (while maintaining sophistication) is a way to increase the speed of the computer.

Answer Anticipation:
Our first reaction might be "just because ONE WAY of increasing computer speed is a no-go, why should we accept the conclusion that there is NO WAY of increasing computer speed?"

Correct Answer:
A

Answer Choice Analysis:
(A) YES! If we negate this, it's saying "there is ANOTHER way to increase the speed of computers". That ruins the author's reasoning, which was "if we can't make CPU chips smaller, then we can't make computers faster".

(B) Out of scope: the effects of a "slight" decrease in sophistication. The author only talked about whether we can presently make chips smaller without ANY decrease in sophistication.

(C) Out of scope/opposite: the author never makes any comment on this specific scenario of "decreasing size AND sophistication". But a common sense reading of the paragraph suggests that decreasing size and sophistication would INCREASE the speed of the CPU chip.

(D) Out of scope: what manufacturers BELIEVE.

(E) Out of scope: the author never discusses the effects of increasing sophistication.

Takeaway/Pattern: This is a recurring argument archetype in LR:
"A is one possible way of achieving X. Since we can't do A, we can't do X."

sayan640 · Answer

@veritaskarishma  GMATNinja  
 GMATGuruNY   mikemcgarry

Posted from my mobile device

unraveled · Answer

Computer manufacturers have sought to make computer chips ever smaller, since decreasing the size of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) chip-without making that CPU chip any less sophisticated-will proportionally increase the speed of the CPU chip and the computer containing it. But since CPU chips cannot be made significantly smaller without decreasing their sophistication, computers cannot currently be made significantly faster.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

It is claimed that smaller size of CPUs will increase the speed of CPU, eventually the computer - only condition being CPU chip not less sophisticated. And this sophistication is an obstacle if smaller chips are made, since it is only the reason for Computers getting faster. Hence, we need to pay attention to sophistication aspect to find an assumption.

(A)  Computers cannot currently be made faster unless their CPU chips are made smaller. - CORRECT. Sophistication condition skipped, cleanly making an assumption. 
 (B)  Even if CPU chips are made  slightly less sophisticated , they cannot currently be made much smaller. - WRONG. It talks about intangible thing here. It is about YES or NO, nothing in between.
 (C)  If both the size and the sophistication of a CPU chip are decreased, the speed of that chip will decrease. - WRONG. Irrelevant as proportionality is not there.
 (D)   Few, if any, computer manufacturers believe  that computers can be made significantly faster. - WRONG. Nothing such sort of can be assumed as there is no relation how many manufacturers believe so or not.
 (E)   Increasing the sophistication of a CPU chip without increasing its size  will proportionally increase its speed. - WRONG. It is logical opposite to what we have in the passage which cannot be true necessarily. That's why this is 2nd best choice - I also fell for it. The passage is about decreasing size of chip without affecting sophistication, resulting in increase in speed of computer. This option is about increasing the sophistication without affecting the size of the chip to increase the speed.

Answer A.

GMATGuruNY · Answer

Premise:
CPU chips cannot be made significantly smaller without decreasing their sophistication.
Conclusion:
Computers cannot currently be made significantly faster.

Apply the NEGATION TEST.
When the correct answer is negated, the conclusion will be invalidated.

Note:
 Not A unless B  =  If not B, then not A .

A, rephrased as an if-then statement:
 If CPU chips are not made smaller, then computers cannot currently be made faster. 
A, negated:
 If CPU chips are not made smaller, then computers CAN currently be made faster.

The negation of A invalidates the conclusion that  computers cannot currently be made significantly faster .
Since the negation of A invalidates the conclusion, A is an ASSUMPTION: a statement that MUST BE TRUE for the conclusion to hold.

A

A_Nishith · Answer

Stimulus Breakdown:
Conclusion: Computers can't currently be made significantly faster.
Evidence: CPU chips can't currently be made significantly smaller (w/o a decrease in sophistication) and making CPU ships smaller (while maintaining sophistication) is a way to increase the speed of the computer.

(A) Computers cannot currently be made faster unless their CPU chips are made smaller. - CORRECT. Sophistication condition skipped, cleanly making an assumption.

Answer: A

Computer manufacturers have sought to make computer chips ever smaller

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Computer manufacturers have sought to make computer chips ever smaller

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