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# The proportion of people over the age of fifty in the workforce has

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The proportion of people over the age of fifty in the workforce has  [#permalink]

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Updated on: 28 Mar 2019, 11:35
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56% (02:02) correct 44% (02:05) wrong based on 156 sessions

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The proportion of people over the age of fifty in the workforce has increased in recent years, as evidenced by an analysis of employment statistics. In 1999, only 10 percent of men over the age of fifty and 6 percent of women over the age of fifty were employed. Last year, however, 18 percent of men over the age of fifty and 14 percent of women over the age of fifty were employed.

To evaluate the argument above, it would be most useful to compare 1999 and last year with respect to which of the following statistics?

A) the percentage of people over the age of fifty that were not employed
B) the percentage of women that were fifty years old or younger
C) the percentage of people fifty years old or younger that were employed
D) the percentage of people fifty years old or younger that were men
E) the percentage of people over the age of fifty that were women

Originally posted by energetics on 28 Mar 2019, 07:12.
Last edited by energetics on 28 Mar 2019, 11:35, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The proportion of people over the age of fifty in the workforce has  [#permalink]

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28 Mar 2019, 11:08
energetics, can you post what the question is? Only argument and options are provided as of now.
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The proportion of people over the age of fifty in the workforce has  [#permalink]

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28 Mar 2019, 11:38
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

Assumption: There’s no other way to interpret the facts. The percentage increase in employed men and women over fifty years of age means that the proportion of people over the age of fifty in the workforce has increased.

Choice A: No. Information about the percentage of people over the age of fifty that were not employed is out of scope. The argument focuses on those that were employed.

Choice B: No. Information about the percentage of women that were fifty years old or younger is out of scope. The argument focuses only on those over fifty years old and does not distinguish between men and women.

Choice C: Correct. The argument assumes that an increase in the percent of people over 50 who are employed reflects an increase in the proportion of people over 50 who are employed. Information about the percentage of people fifty years old or younger that were employed would help determine whether that assumption is correct—for example, if the percent of people under 50 who are employed has dramatically increased, that would provide an alternative interpretation of the evidence.

Choice D: No. Information about the percentage of people fifty years old or younger that were men is out of scope. The argument focuses only on those over fifty years old and does not distinguish between men and women.

Choice E: No. Information about the percentage of people over the age of fifty that were women is out of scope. The argument does not distinguish between men and women.
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Re: The proportion of people over the age of fifty in the workforce has  [#permalink]

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13 Apr 2019, 01:52
energetics wrote:
The proportion of people over the age of fifty in the workforce has increased in recent years, as evidenced by an analysis of employment statistics. In 1999, only 10 percent of men over the age of fifty and 6 percent of women over the age of fifty were employed. Last year, however, 18 percent of men over the age of fifty and 14 percent of women over the age of fifty were employed.

To evaluate the argument above, it would be most useful to compare 1999 and last year with respect to which of the following statistics?

A) the percentage of people over the age of fifty that were not employed
B) the percentage of women that were fifty years old or younger
C) the percentage of people fifty years old or younger that were employed
D) the percentage of people fifty years old or younger that were men
E) the percentage of people over the age of fifty that were women

Don't understand how is C the correct answer.

Can someone help?
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The proportion of people over the age of fifty in the workforce has  [#permalink]

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16 Apr 2019, 00:02
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Conclusion :The proportion of people over the age of fifty in the workforce has increased in recent years.

Premise:In 1999, only 10 percent of men over the age of fifty and 6 percent of women over the age of fifty were employed. Last year, however, 18 percent of men over the age of fifty and 14 percent of women over the age of fifty were employed.

Proportion of people in the workforce is not reflected by the points given in Premise.
For all we know it can be a case when in 1999 there were 100 men and 100 women over age of 50.
And total work force could have been 1000--->Meaning 10 men(over 50) and 6 women(over 50) were employed.
Prop:16/1000
But Last year that Population(over 50) was 200(Men) and 200 Women
Last year 36 men and 28 women over 50 were employed.
But if workforce increased to 100k.
Now Prop:64/100k.
So in above case conclusion fails.

But if we are given the percentage of people fifty years old or younger that were employed/are employed.
We can definitely conclude about proportion in workforce.

This question is based more on Quants.
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Re: The proportion of people over the age of fifty in the workforce has  [#permalink]

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16 Apr 2019, 02:35
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Conclusion: The proportion of people over the age of fifty in the workforce has increased in recent years
Simplify the conclusion as follows:
Workforce with people over 50 yrs --> (W50+)
Total workforce (other age groups also) --> (Wtotal)
Now conclusion says: (W50+)/(Wtotal) has increased!

With this in mind, let us look at the premises.
Both prems say that the PERCENTAGES (of men and women) have gone up (we don't really know the base values to figure out whether the actual NUMBER has gone up).
Clearly, we see that the numerator (W50+) is changing, but don't know what is going on in the denominator.
To evaluate this, let us look for an answer option which gives us this data.

A) Close one, but incorrect. This gives data of people who are NOT employed (pause and understand that employed + unemployed is NOT equal to our denominator - Wtotal). We want to know the proportion of employed who are above 50yrs. So our denominator requires the entire sample space i.e, the total number of employed people across all age groups.

B) talks about the % of women alone. This is of no use whatsoever.

C) Older or younger who are EMPLOYED! This is exactly what we are looking for! This is the right choice.

D) Talks about men alone ! Not sure whether they are employed or not. Anyways, this is ruled out. Doesn't cover our entire sample space

E) Similar to D, but info is about women. Easily rule this one out.

C wins!

Make sure to clearly understand how A is different from C and what data each of those is really giving.
Hope this helps
Re: The proportion of people over the age of fifty in the workforce has   [#permalink] 16 Apr 2019, 02:35
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