A tech uses sound to convert heat into electrical energy.
It can be made small enough to be put in ICs to absorb heat.
Converters are being designed to be sold to laptop manufacturers (so that electricity generated can conserve battery power)

What helps the plan?

A) The sound that is used by the converters is generated by the converters themselves.

It doesn't matter who or what generates the sound the converter needs. As long as there is a provision for sound, it will work. Converter doesn't need to generate the sound itself.

B) Most laptop computer manufacturers today receive fewer complaints than in previous years regarding shortness of operating time on a single battery charge.

Irrelevant. Even if batteries today are better than before, it doesn't mean that can't be made even better.

C) The overheating of microprocessors in laptop computers presents a major technological challenge that manufacturers are prepared to meet at significant expense.

If overheating is a major challenge and manufacturers are prepared to solve it at significant expense, adding a new converter should work out perfectly for them. If will give the added advantage of adding to battery life. Correct.

D) Although battery technology has improved significantly, the average capacity of laptop computer batteries has not.

Doesn't matter. The capacitors will help conserve battery power, whatever it may be.

E) Electrical power generated by the converters can be used to power the fans installed to cool computers' components.

The electrical power can be used to perform any functions for the laptop. They will probably not be used to power fans even if they can be used for that purpose because the converters will absorb the heat. So the use of fans may actually go down. So the fact that their output can be used for fans doesn't add to their viability in any way.

Answer (C)
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A) This offers no indication of the commercial success (popularity, sales, demand, etc.) of the engineer's plan

B) This is evidence that it might not be commercially successful, as users are less concerned with battery life and laptop manufacturers therefore might not want to buy the converters.

C) The converters absorb heat, and if the manufacturers (who the engineers want to sell to) are willing to spend a lot of money to solve the issue of overheating microprocessors, they might buy the converters in great numbers just to absorb the heat from the microprocessors. This is a great indication of the potential commercial success.

D) So what? This doesn't say that either users or laptop manufacturers want the battery capacity to increase. Indeed, the fact that the capacity hasn't increased even though it could is indication that there isn't much demand for it.

E) Not only does this not offer any indication of commercial success, cooling computer components means there is less heat for the converters to absorb, and they will be less useful.

(c) is the right answer
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Researchers have developed a technology that uses sound as a means of converting heat into electrical energy. Converters based on this technology can be manufactured small enough to be integrated into consumer electronics, where they will absorb significant quantities of heat. A group of engineers is now designing converters to be sold to laptop computer manufacturers, who are expected to use the electrical output of the converters to conserve battery power in their computers.

new tech -> sound as a means of converting heat -> electrical energy
this tech = small enough -> integrated into consumer electronics and absorbs heat from CE.
new tech -> to be sold to laptop computer manufacturers who use the electrical output to conserve battery.

Where is the conclusion?

Which of the following would, if true, provide the strongest evidence that the engineers' plan will be commercially successful for their group? <— It is here.


This only talks about the converter itself. (A) is out.

This is why the manufactures need to improve the laptop batteries. But how are they going to improve? (B) is out.

TBH, i missed this answer at first by overlooking "manufacturers"— fast reading is more harmful than helpful. I thought this answer was talking about the engineer's challenge. However, this actually contributes to the problem that the manufactures face when they produce laptop computers. This problem, in turn, is solved by the converters absorbing heat from the laptop. The converters then convert heat to energy. Ultimately, the laptop computer reuse this energy. Hence, conserving battery.

The reasoning is only concerned whether the converters will solve the manufactures' problem. This does not solve anything. (D) is out.

This, if anything, weakens the argument. The converter uses heat to produce energy. In the absence of heat, the convert is useless. (E) is out

(C) is the only one left. (C) is correct.
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The plan is in bold in question: and for that to be success>> (pre-thinking)there should be a potential market in which plan can succeed.
Searching options for this:

A)So what ? This Doesn't provide any boom
B)Weakening
C)Heat to electrify is the product-converter>>> Also manufacturers are ready to pay high for reducing heat>>>Thus Engineer's plan works here. He can sell his products for profit. Yeah
D)Battery capacity relates electricity but how will engineer gain here ? Heat is not discussed.Not even any reason to use converter.
E)Ooh nice but IDC.. but where does heat come from ?


Hope this helps.
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VeritasKarishma mam Please guide as I marked Option E for this question considering the fact that Electrical power generated by the converters can be used to power the fans installed to cool computers' components. Hence our purpose of battery conversation of laptops is achieved

Researchers have developed a technology that uses sound as a means of converting heat into electrical energy. Converters based on this technology can be manufactured small enough to be integrated into consumer electronics, where they will absorb significant quantities of heat. A group of engineers is now designing converters to be sold to laptop computer manufacturers, who are expected to use the electrical output of the converters to conserve battery power in their computers.

Which of the following would, if true, provide the strongest evidence that the engineers' plan will be commercially successful for their group?


A) The sound that is used by the converters is generated by the converters themselves. -- The technique of sound generation is not important

B) Most laptop computer manufacturers today receive fewer complaints than in previous years regarding shortness of operating time on a single battery charge. -- This could weaken the success of the engineers' plan.

C) The overheating of microprocessors in laptop computers presents a major technological challenge that manufacturers are prepared to meet at significant expense. -- CORRECT, this option tells us manufactures would be willing to invest in the technology, thus making the researchers' plan a success.

D) Although battery technology has improved significantly, the average capacity of laptop computer batteries has not. -- We don't know if the current avg capacity of laptop batteries is good or not. This doesn't link to the conclusion either.

E) Electrical power generated by the converters can be used to power the fans installed to cool computers' components. -- The technical know-how of the cooling technology is not important. IRRELEVANT.

So, answer is C

In my opinion this is not an assumption question. please, correct me if I am wrong.

Good catch, rudywip. I agree. According to the Verbal Review, this question falls under the umbrella "Evaluation of a Plan." (See attached screenshot.) On the other hand, the GMAT Club Practice Question Banks do not include such a tag for CR questions, where "Evaluate Argument" appears instead. The designation was likely an attempt to fit the question into more than one meaningful category. In the end, regardless of how you approach the question, what matters is that your reasoning is accurate.

Good luck with your studies.

- Andrew

This might be a bit out of the way doubt but considering logic that GMAT demands, I chose D.

Not C because, the microprocessors heat up because they need to run throughout the time computer is switched on and until switched off.
if the heat through the converter is converted into electricity it would eventually be used to power those microprocessors again and that would again cause them to heat up. If those converters were just some sort of coolers it would make sense for the company to invest in it!

Also it is mentioned that "engineers are expected to use the electrical output of the converters to conserve battery power in their computers." and that is quite specific …the battery power.. hence I thought choosing option best suited to it would be (D) , but …

Kindly help here GMATNinja VeritasKarishma

Hi devtashrey
You are right in practicle world but in GMAT, you must stick with the information provided in argument for best answer.

Argument says coverter will convert heat energy to electrical energy. They will design for laptop manufacturers.
i.e. laptops have heat energy that can be converted into electrical energy.

In C it is reperesented in different way. Laptops have heating issue means that laptop generates heat that can be converted into electrical energy.

In D you are thinking mechanically, applying outside knowledge/experiecence to the process of start and stop of laptop and how it causes heating of laptop. A general GMAT taker is not required this kind of specific knowlege for GMAT test.

I hope this will help you.
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A group of engineers is now designing converters to be sold to laptop computer manufacturers, who are expected to use the electrical output of the converters to conserve battery power in their computers.

Which of the following would, if true, provide the strongest evidence that the engineers' plan will be commercially successful for their group?

We need evidence that the engineer's plan will be commercially successful for the engineers. They are designing a converter. Will laptop manufacturers want this converter and pay them well for it? We need something that says that yes, they will.

When will laptop manufacturers buy the converter and pay well for it? If the converter resolves a problem for them (leading to more financial gains) or promises more financial gains for them directly or leads to higher customer satisfaction (again leading to higher financial gains).

C) The overheating of microprocessors in laptop computers presents a major technological challenge that manufacturers are prepared to meet at significant expense.

Tells us that the heating trouble the manufacturers face will be resolved with this converter. And that they will be willing to pay good money to fix this problem. Seems like our engineers may get the commercial success they have been hoping for.
(Note that the heat converts to electricity so the laptop doesn't use battery. The electricity produced will not cause extra heat. The same heat will be produced as long as the laptop is in use, no matter what the source of power. If this is not so in actual practice, it is irrelevant. The argument does not consider this aspect and we are not expected to know anything else)


D) Although battery technology has improved significantly, the average capacity of laptop computer batteries has not.

Ok, so capacity of laptop batteries has not increased. Is the current capacity an issue? Do the manufacturers want to increase capacity? Is the market demanding more capacity? Would the manufacturers be willing to pay to increase capacity? We don't know.
So whether the engineers will get commercial success, we don't know.

Answer (C)
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Passage Analysis

Researchers have developed a technology that uses sound as a means of converting heat into electrical energy.

Scientists have developed a new technology.
It uses sound to change heat into electricity.

Converters based on this technology can be manufactured small enough to be integrated into consumer electronics, where they will absorb significant quantities of heat.

Converters using this technology can be made in small sizes such that they can be a part of daily life electronic equipment.
In such equipment, the converters will take in a good amount of heat.

A group of engineers is now designing converters to be sold to laptop computer manufacturers,

One group of engineers are currently designing converters to be sold to makers of laptops.

who are expected to use the electrical output of the converters to conserve battery power in their computers.

Makers of laptops are expected to use the converter-made electricity to save battery power in their computers.

Question Stem Analysis

Which of the following would, if true, provide the strongest evidence that the engineers' plan will be commercially successful for their group?

The conclusion is that the Engineers’ plan will be commercially successful for the group.
The question stem states it and asks for a strengthener.

Prethinking

Strengthener framework

What new information will make us feel more confident that the Engineers’ plan will be commercially successful for the group.?

Given that

• Researchers have developed a technology that uses sound as a means of converting heat into electrical energy.
  
• Converters based on this technology can be manufactured small enough to be integrated into consumer electronics, where they will absorb significant quantities of heat.
  
• A group of engineers is now designing converters to be sold to laptop computer manufacturers, who are expected to use the electrical output of the converters to conserve battery power in their computers

.

Strengthener 1- Heating is a significant problem for laptop manufacturers (significant enough that they are ready to pay well for a good solution) and the converter can help resolve this problem.

Strengthener 2-The converter can be customized easily to the requirements of each laptop manufacturer. This indicates that the converter can be easily sold to various laptop manufacturers. This increases belief in the notion that the plan will be commercially successful.

Answer Choice Analysis

A) The sound that is used by the converters is generated by the converters themselves.
INCORRECT
What the source of sound is has no relevance in determining whether the plan will be a commercial success amongst laptop manufacturers. How sound being generated on its own (by the converters) will help laptop manufacturers is not mentioned. Hence this choice has no clear impact.

B) Most laptop computer manufacturers today receive fewer complaints than in previous years regarding shortness of operating time on a single battery charge.
INCORRECT
This is a weakener since it says most laptop manufacturers receive fewer complaints than before regarding battery charge. If the problem has gone down, then the incentive of saving battery charge or recharging it from the converter goes down.

C) The overheating of microprocessors in laptop computers presents a major technological challenge that manufacturers are prepared to meet at significant expense.
CORRECT
This option says that the converter acts as a solution for a major problem faced by laptop manufacturers, who were ready to spend a lot on solving it. The option tells us that the group likely will receive a good amount for making the solution of the major problem. Hence it is a strengthener.

D) Although battery technology has improved significantly, the average capacity of laptop computer batteries has not.
INCORRECT
This option says that the average battery capacity of laptops has not improved. This option only indicates that the converter will be useful to the laptop manufacturers as a means of conserving power. This option is irrelevant in deciding whether plan will be a commercial success.

E) Electrical power generated by the converters can be used to power the fans installed to cool computers' components.
INCORRECT
If the converters are used to power the fans, then the system will be cooled. Then the converter will not have heat to convert to electricity. This option makes one doubt the usefulness of the converter. Hence this option is not correct.
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Hi VeritasKarishma - would you agree that both option D and Option E strengthens the goal mentioned in purple ? However both option D or option E don't give any reference to **commericial success** specifically in green ?

Answer C refers to BOTH -- the green and the purple

Fair way to think about it ?

We need to strengthen only this - "the engineers' plan will be commercially successful for the engineers".
This is what the question stem asks. Focus on this only.
The correct option will give us a reason why the manufacturers may go for this new converter and hence make the engineers rich.

(D) doesn't say that the average capacity of current batteries is not enough. So it doesn't strengthen anything. Also, what impact the feature given by (E) will have, we do not know.
So just ignore these options. They do not serve any purpose. Whether they strengthen some other part of the argument is only going to confuse you. Focus only on what you need to strengthen as per the question.
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AndrewN GMATNinja
Option E for this question considering the fact that Electrical power generated by the converters can be used to power the fans installed to cool computers' components. Hence our purpose of battery conversation of laptops is achieved.
why not this option b act as strengthener,Even in this fans,which may use earlier battery power now won't utilise that and hence battery power saved

Hello, saby1410. You have to be careful not to employ what I call one-step-removed logic on CR questions, particularly difficult ones. Keep in mind that the passage tells us that the new technology uses sound as a means of converting heat into electrical energy. For the converters based on this technology to work, they need to absorb heat. I like the simple way that fiftyoneverbal has taken apart (E) above:


In other words, sound + heat => electrical energy. If heat becomes diminished, so, too, will be the electrical energy available from the converter. (And who would want to run a half-powered laptop, for instance?)

I hope that helps clarify your concerns. Your goal in CR is to follow a linear thought process. Although this is a nuanced question, you have to ignore one of the facts or relationships provided in the passage to justify (E).

- Andrew

Researchers have developed a technology that uses sound as a means of converting heat into electrical energy. Converters based on this technology can be manufactured small enough to be integrated into consumer electronics, where they will absorb significant quantities of heat. A group of engineers is now designing converters to be sold to laptop computer manufacturers, who are expected to use the electrical output of the converters to conserve battery power in their computers.

Which of the following would, if true, provide the strongest evidence that the engineers' plan will be commercially successful for their group?


A) The sound that is used by the converters is generated by the converters themselves.
-> Technological process is not an important matter in this argument.

B) Most laptop computer manufacturers today receive fewer complaints than in previous years regarding shortness of operating time on a single battery charge.
-> Option B weakens the possibility that the engineers' pan will work because it elminates the need of manufacturers.

C) The overheating of microprocessors in laptop computers presents a major technological challenge that manufacturers are prepared to meet at significant expense.
-> Correct. If the overheating is a great challenge and manufacturers are prepared to meet this challenge even with significant expense, engineers will have high chance of commercial success since their technology can convert such heat into energy.

D) Although battery technology has improved significantly, the average capacity of laptop computer batteries has not.
-> Irrelevant. There can be a lot of reason that average capacity did not increase. For instance, technological challenge might have caught the increase or commercial benefit or consumer need did not require increase in average capacity.

E) Electrical power generated by the converters can be used to power the fans installed to cool computers' components.
-> Information E merely provides information that generated power can be used to cool computers. However, no information is given related to customer or manufacturers need in such matter.

Ok. Option C, I don't understand.

As per the question/argument, the main aim of the manufacturers is to conserve battery power and not heat.

Therefore, in

1. We don't know if the converter is the best way to solve the overheating problem.
2. It does not say anything about conserving battery power. Rather, it gives elimination of heat a preference over conservation of battery.

Therefore, I think D is better.


Since the capacity of battery has not increased, the manufacturers NEED a way to conserve battery. Therefore the use of converter.

Please help me out guys..

theyesguy, see if this helps -

Option C - The passage does not specify that the main aim of the manufacturers is to conserve battery power. Even if it did, the main aim of any entity does not mean that that entity would give up on everything else just to achieve that main aim. We already know that these convertors can help in the conservation of battery so option C gives us an added advantage of the convertor.

Option D - How can you say that the manufacturers need a way to conserve battery? I'd happily take $50 million dollars right now, but I don't need $50 million dollars. Also, even if the capacity of the battery had improved, the convertors would still help in the conservation. Option D does not really add anything.