Bunuel wrote:
Sales of yoga mats from Daniel’s yoga studio this year were double those of the prior year. However, average enrollment per class at Daniel’s studio decreased from the prior year, despite Daniel’s studio being the only yoga studio in town.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the discrepancy in sales?
(A) Daniel offered a greater variety of yoga mats for sale than he had offered the previous year.
(B) The prices of yoga mats in Daniel’s studio increased from the previous year.
(C) Daniel began to teach additional styles of yoga this year, increasing the number of classes offered and attracting new students.
(D) Daniel increased the cost of each of his yoga classes from the previous year.
(E) Daniel’s studio requires that an individual bring his or her own yoga mat to each of the classes.
Explain questions present two facts that seem to be inconsistent, and we need to find the option that could explain how both of those facts could coexis.
Despite average class enrollment decreasing this year, sales of yoga mats at Daniel's studio (the only one in town) have doubled. Our job is to find an option that reconciles these two seemingly contradictory pieces of information.
(A) Daniel offering a greater variety of mats might explain an increase in sales, but it doesn't touch on why fewer people are coming to classes. It doesn't resolve the contradiction.
(B) Higher prices for the mats could potentially explain higher sales revenue. However, just like option (A), it doesn't address the drop in class enrollment. So, this one doesn't fit the bill.
(C) Now we're talking! If Daniel added more yoga styles to his repertoire, he probably added more classes too. This could've attracted new students who bought mats, hence the surge in sales. But if these new students are spread out over more classes, the average enrollment per class could still go down, despite a rise in total students. This option neatly addresses both parts of the paradox.
(D) If Daniel increased the cost of his classes, this could explain why fewer people are coming to class. But, this doesn't tell us why mat sales have increased. So, this one isn't our answer.
(E) Requiring each student to bring their own mat could boost mat sales, but it doesn't provide a reason for the drop in class enrollment.
After looking at all the options, (C) stands out as the one that best explains the paradox.
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