I14-18

Question

https://gmatclub.com/gmat-focus-tests/resources/import/img/I14-18.png 
 
Residential electricity customers, which include single-family homes and multifamily housing, make up more than a third of electricity consumers in the USA. Electricity rates, however, vary significantly across the country due to factors such as power generation costs, transmission infrastructure, and other variables.
 
The graph above shows the distribution of residential electricity customers in five U.S. states, highlighting those paying average electricity rates between 6 and 16 cents per kilowatt hour. However, some customers may pay rates outside this range, which are not reflected in the graph.
 
Select from each drop-down menu the option that creates the most accurate statement, given the information provided.

If every residential customer pays less than or equal to 16 cents per kilowatt hour, the state with the highest percentage of customers paying less than 6 cents per kilowatt hour is  GRAPH_1_PLACEHOLDER .

The average U.S. residential electricity rate is 14 cents per kilowatt hour. If Massachusetts and Pennsylvania have an equal number of residential electricity customers, and a customer paying less than this average rate is randomly selected from both states, the approximate probability that the selected customer is from Pennsylvania is  GRAPH_2_PLACEHOLDER .

Bunuel · Answer

Official Solution:

Drop-down 1: 
 
By examining the graph, we see that the total percentage of customers for all states except Washington adds up to 100%. Since all residential customers pay less than or equal to 16 cents, the remaining percentage for Washington must represent customers paying less than 6 cents. For Washington, the percentages add up to 90%, meaning that 10% of its residents pay less than 6 cents per kilowatt hour.
 
 Drop-down 2: 
 
The percentages of customers paying less than 14 cents in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are 25% and 95%, respectively. Since both states have an equal number of residential electricity customers, these percentages are equally weighted. Therefore, if a customer paying less than 14 cents is randomly selected from both states, the probability that the customer is from Pennsylvania is approximately 95% / (95% + 25%) = 95 / 120 ≈ 80%.

Correct answer:

Dropdown 1:  "Washington"

Dropdown 2:  "80%"

Bunuel · Answer

I have revised the question, solution, and formatting by adding more details to enhance clarity.

asharma7899 · Answer

It says 
"However, some customers may pay rates outside this range" So we are not gurranteed that washington must be paying less than 6 cents, it could be possible washington is paying more than 16 cents

Bunuel · Answer

If every residential customer pays  less than or equal to 16 cents  per kilowatt hour, ...

The question clearly states that  every  customer pays  less than or equal to 16¢ , so the missing 10% in Washington  cannot  be above 16¢. They  must  be below 6¢.

Karym · Answer

I like the solution - it’s helpful.

gadbadhai · Answer

I like the solution - it’s helpful.

I14-18

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