If the majority of the residents of the apartment complex complain tha

Question

If the majority of the residents of the apartment complex complain that their apartments are infested with ants, then the management of the complex will have to engage the services of an exterminator. But the majority of the residents of the complex indicate that their apartments are virtually free of ants. Therefore, the management of the complex will not have to engage the services of an exterminator.

Which one of the following arguments contains a flawed pattern of reasoning parallel to that contained in the argument above?

(A) A theater will be constructed in the fall if funds collected are at least sufficient to cover its cost. To date, the funds collected exceed the theater's cost, so the theater will be constructed in the fall

(B) The number of flights operated by the airlines cannot be reduced unless the airlines can collect higher airfares. But people will not pay higher airfares, so it is not the case that the number of flights will be reduced

(C) In order for the company to start the proposed building project, both the town council and the mayor must approve. Since the mayor has already approved, the building project will be started soon

(D) Most employees will attend the company picnic if the entertainment committee is successful in getting a certain band to play at the picnic. But that band will be out of the country on the day of the picnic, so it is not true that most employees will attend

(E) Either the school's principal or two-thirds of the parent council must approve a change in the school dress code in order for the code to be changed. Since the principal will not approve a change in the dress code, the code will not be changed

nkin · Answer

I Feel the original pattern is if X then Y. Conclusion: If not X then not Y. Correct me if I am wrong here. D seemed closest to this pattern.

abhishek31 · Answer

hi, can someone offer an explanation of why D is a correct answer choice? I chose option A, can someone also tell me why A is wrong?

medic19 · Answer

Identify flaw: one will only deal with an issue after the issue has occurred and based on a certain condition.

Let X = complaint of ant infestation; Y = Exterminator to be called. Probability(X) = almost 0%, therefore P(Y) = almost 0%

Apply to each scenario presented:

(A) theater will be constructed in the fall if funds collected are at least sufficient to cover its cost. To date, the funds collected exceed the theater's cost, so the theater will be constructed in the fall.  X has occurred, Y will therefore occur as well

(B) The number of flights operated by the airlines cannot be reduced unless the airlines can collect higher airfares. But people will not pay higher airfares, so it is not the case that the number of flights will be reduced  X (higher airfares) will definitely not occur, Y will therefore not occur. What distinguishes B from D, in my mind, is that it is not an issue that will only be dealt with once the issue occurs, but rather an issue that cannot be solved since people will not pay higher prices. In D we are dealing with a solvable issue.

(C) In order for the company to start the proposed building project, both the town council and the mayor must approve. Since the mayor has already approved, the building project will be started soon  X has occurred, Y will therefore occur as well

(D) Most employees will attend the company picnic if the entertainment committee is successful in getting a certain band to play at the picnic. But that band will be out of the country on the day of the picnic, so it is not true that most employees will attend  X has no chance of occurring, Y will therefore not occur as well. This is closer to the infestation scenario as in D we are dealing with a solvable issue in that the party can be re-scheduled

(E) Either the school's principal or two-thirds of the parent council must approve a change in the school dress code in order for the code to be changed. Since the principal will not approve a change in the dress code, the code will not be changed Wrong reasoning anyway. X or Z must occur has occurred; X will not occur but Z might so Y may therefore still occur

anothermillenial · Answer

abhishek31

A is wrong because A is actually a proper argument. The stimulus is a flawed argument. Let's use logic here.

If the majority of the residents of the apartment complex complain that their apartments are infested with ants, then the management of the complex will have to engage the services of an exterminator. But the majority of the residents of the complex indicate that their apartments are virtually free of ants. Therefore, the management of the complex will not have to engage the services of an exterminator.

Residents Complain (RC) → Get Exterminator (GE) 
Residents don't complain (~ RC) → Don't Get Exterminator (~ GE)

This is a flawed argument because of mistaken negation. Just because a majority don't complain doesn't mean they won't have to get an exterminator.

Which one of the following arguments contains a flawed pattern of reasoning parallel to that contained in the argument above?

(A) A theater will be constructed in the fall if funds collected are at least sufficient to cover its cost.  To date, the funds collected exceed the theater's cost, so the theater will be constructed in the fall

Sufficient Funds (SF) → Theatre Constructed (TC)
The second sentence says the same thing. Because this argument is true, it is incorrect.
 
 (B) The number of flights operated by the airlines cannot be reduced unless the airlines can collect higher airfares. But people will not pay higher airfares, so it is not the case that the number of flights will be reduced

Can't Collect Higher Fares (~HF) → Flight Can't Be Reduced (~FR)
~HF → ~FR

(C) In order for the company to start the proposed building project, both the town council and the mayor must approve. Since the mayor has already approved, the building project will be started soon 
This is a both X and Y must approve. Since X is approved, Y is OK. Not a mistaken negation; just a flawed argument.

](D) Most employees will attend the company picnic if the entertainment committee is successful in getting a certain band to play at the picnic. But that band will be out of the country on the day of the picnic, so it is not true that most employees will attend

Success to get band (B) → Employees go to picnic (E)
Band is out of country (~B) → Not true that employees will attend (~E)

( E) Either the school's principal or two-thirds of the parent council must approve a change in the school dress code in order for the code to be changed.  Since the principal will not approve a change in the dress code,  the code will not be changed
 
This is an "either ... or" condition. Different from stimulus.

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If the majority of the residents of the apartment complex complain tha

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