Maxine frequently makes purchases from an online hardware store that

Answer is E

Free delivery above $90 and a fee varying from $5 to $25 for every order less than 90
If Maxine decides to take the monthly plan that means:
1) Most of her orders are below $90
2) She orders more than 9 times in a month in order to make the $45 fee profitable

Both these conditions are being met in answer choice E

Official Explanation:

Maxine frequently makes purchases from an online hardware store that has started offering free delivery to anyone spending more than $90 on a single purchase. Purchases less than this would be subject to a fee ranging from $5 to $25, depending on the weight of the items being delivered. Shoppers also have the option of signing up for unlimited delivery if they pay a monthly fee of $45. Maxine decides that she’ll save the most money on deliveries by paying the monthly fee.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports Maxine’s decision?

(A) The store extends its warranty by a year on any items purchased through the monthly plan.
(B) Maxine has never bought an item from the store that would qualify for the $5 delivery fee.
(C) During the winter, Maxine usually makes only one or two purchases from the store.
(D) Maxine always makes her purchases from the store during the first week of every month.
(E) Maxine typically makes about a dozen purchases, each less than $50, every month.


Question Type: Strengthen
Boil It Down: Maxine, a frequent shopper at an online hardware store, has several options for delivery services: free if she spends over $90 / $5-25 if she spends less than $90 / Unlimited delivery for $45/month. She chose the last option.
Goal: Find the reason that best supports her choice!

Analysis:

This question asks us to strengthen Maxine's conclusion:

Conclusion: Maxine will save the most money on deliveries with the monthly payment plan.

Evidence: Shoppers can get free delivery (for purchases more than $90 each), pay a fee each time ($5 to $25, based on weight), or use the monthly plan ($45 per month for unlimited deliveries).

If Maxine’s purchases are more than $90, she would get free delivery. However, her purchases are typically less than $50, so she would not get free delivery. She should pay the $5 to $25 fee per delivery IF this would amount to a monthly charge less than $45. Choice E states, however, that she makes a dozen purchases each month, and even if the fee is only $5 each time, that’s $60. She would do better to use the monthly plan, therefore, and only pay $45.

(A) The store extends its warranty by a year on any items purchased through the monthly plan.
This does not address the conclusion, which is limited to discussing Maxine’s delivery costs. It has no known effect on the wisdom of her decision to use the monthly payment plan.

(B) Maxine has never bought an item from the store that would qualify for the $5 delivery fee.
This does not give us enough information. Even if she continues to purchase only items that would cost more than $5 to deliver, how many purchases does she make? If she only makes 2 purchases that would cost $10 each to deliver, then the $20 fee is the better deal, not the monthly plan.

(C) During the winter, Maxine usually makes only one or two purchases from the store.
If anything, this suggests that Maxine might NOT benefit from a plan that involves a monthly fee, since she would not be paying much to have just two items delivered.

(D) Maxine always makes her purchases from the store during the first week of every month.
Knowing just when she makes her purchases does not provide us with enough information to determine whether the decision to use the monthly plan is a good one.

(E) Maxine typically makes about a dozen purchases, each less than $50, every month.
This is the correct choice. As stated in the analysis above, even if she pays the minimum of $5 for the dozen items she typically purchases each month, she’d be paying $60 (12 x $5 = $60). This means that it would be better to pay the $45 plan fee.

Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.

Answer is E

If Maxine opt for monthly plan that means:
She is going to order most frequently and her order value will be less than $50 each time, if She orders more than 9 times in a month in order, she will make the $45 fee profitable.

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